<Ul> <Li> Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin A veteran of the French and Indian War as the hero of the fictional Fort Wilderness and widowed father of seven children , Benjamin does what he can to avoid fighting in the Revolutionary War knowing the implications surrounding it . When his oldest son , Gabriel joins up , and his second born son , Thomas is killed , he takes it upon himself to join and fight with the colonial militia . He is nicknamed `` The Ghost '' by the British . He is based on a composite of historical characters which include Thomas Sumter , Daniel Morgan , Nathanael Greene , Andrew Pickens , and Francis Marion . </Li> <Li> Heath Ledger as Gabriel Edward Martin Benjamin 's eldest child , and the husband of Anne Patricia Howard Martin . He decides to join up with the Continental Army against his father 's wishes . He is killed during an attack on the Green Dragoons ' camp , while seeking revenge against Colonel Tavington for his wife 's murder . </Li> <Li> Gregory Smith as Thomas Martin Benjamin 's second son , he , like Gabriel , is anxious to fight in the war , but Benjamin says he has to wait because of his age . He is shot and killed by Tavington when he protests against Gabriel 's arrest . Tavington rebukes him as a `` stupid boy '' for his actions afterward . Benjamin takes Thomas 's set of toy tin soldiers and , over the course of the film , melts them down into bullets for his pistol . </Li> <Li> Trevor Morgan as Nathan Martin Third son , he and Samuel help around the farm . When Gabriel is taken prisoner and Thomas is killed , he and Samuel help their father on a rescue mission . Unlike Samuel , he is `` glad '' to kill British soldiers . </Li> <Li> Bryan Chafin as Samuel Martin Fourth son , he is usually seen helping Nathan around the farm . When Gabriel is taken prisoner and Thomas is killed , he helps his father , Benjamin , rescue Gabriel by killing several British soldiers , even though he does n't want to kill . For a short while , he becomes scared of his father after he witnesses him brutally killing and mutilating , post-mortem , a British soldier with a tomahawk . </Li> <Li> Logan Lerman as William Martin : Benjamin 's fifth and youngest son . This character was not originally in the script and was only added because Mel Gibson wanted to have seven children in the film ( like in real life ) rather than six . Though present throughout the film , his only line is during the opening credits . </Li> <Li> Mika Boorem as Margaret Martin Benjamin 's older daughter , she is often seen taking care of her younger siblings . </Li> <Li> Skye McCole Bartusiak as Susan Martin The younger daughter and child among Benjamin 's seven children , she has a problem with speaking , which may be a post-traumatic reaction to the death of their mother ; only later on does she finally open up . Her feelings towards her father change radically as the film progresses , and after Benjamin leaves from the furlough to rejoin his militia , in an extremely emotional scene , she seemingly forgives him and tells him she 'll say anything he wants to make him stay , to which Benjamin can only promise to return , which Susan accepts . </Li> <Li> Joely Richardson as Charlotte Selton Benjamin 's sister - in - law and love interest in the film . She is the owner of a plantation that is later burned down in the film . She looks after Benjamin 's children while he is fighting . </Li> <Li> Jason Isaacs as Colonel William Tavington Colonel of the Green Dragoons , he is portrayed as a charismatic sociopath and a brutal commander . Long ago , his late father wasted away the family money , along with William 's inheritance . He suggests to Cornwallis that he be allowed to acquire the Ohio territory as payment after the war since the brutality his commander wants from him sacrifices his social standing in English society . He is nicknamed `` The Butcher '' by Brigadier General O'Hara . The character is based on Banastre Tarleton . </Li> <Li> Chris Cooper as Colonel Harry Burwell One of Benjamin 's commanding officers in the French and Indian War and a colonel of the Continental Army . He fought in the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill . When his wife gives birth to their firstborn son , they name
<Ul> <Li> Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin A veteran of the French and Indian War as the hero of the fictional Fort Wilderness and widowed father of seven children , Benjamin does what he can to avoid fighting in the Revolutionary War knowing the implications surrounding it . When his oldest son , Gabriel joins up , and his second born son , Thomas is killed , he takes it upon himself to join and fight with the colonial militia . He is nicknamed `` The Ghost '' by the British . He is based on a composite of historical characters which include Thomas Sumter , Daniel Morgan , Nathanael Greene , Andrew Pickens , and Francis Marion . </Li> <Li> Heath Ledger as Gabriel Edward Martin Benjamin 's eldest child , and the husband of Anne Patricia Howard Martin . He decides to join up with the Continental Army against his father 's wishes . He is killed during an attack on the Green Dragoons ' camp , while seeking revenge against Colonel Tavington for his wife 's murder . </Li> <Li> Gregory Smith as Thomas Martin Benjamin 's second son , he , like Gabriel , is anxious to fight in the war , but Benjamin says he has to wait because of his age . He is shot and killed by Tavington when he protests against Gabriel 's arrest . Tavington rebukes him as a `` stupid boy '' for his actions afterward . Benjamin takes Thomas 's set of toy tin soldiers and , over the course of the film , melts them down into bullets for his pistol . </Li> <Li> Trevor Morgan as Nathan Martin Third son , he and Samuel help around the farm . When Gabriel is taken prisoner and Thomas is killed , he and Samuel help their father on a rescue mission . Unlike Samuel , he is `` glad '' to kill British soldiers . </Li> <Li> Bryan Chafin as Samuel Martin Fourth son , he is usually seen helping Nathan around the farm . When Gabriel is taken prisoner and Thomas is killed , he helps his father , Benjamin , rescue Gabriel by killing several British soldiers , even though he does n't want to kill . For a short while , he becomes scared of his father after he witnesses him brutally killing and mutilating , post-mortem , a British soldier with a tomahawk . </Li> <Li> Logan Lerman as William Martin : Benjamin 's fifth and youngest son . This character was not originally in the script and was only added because Mel Gibson wanted to have seven children in the film ( like in real life ) rather than six . Though present throughout the film , his only line is during the opening credits . </Li> <Li> Mika Boorem as Margaret Martin Benjamin 's older daughter , she is often seen taking care of her younger siblings . </Li> <Li> Skye McCole Bartusiak as Susan Martin The younger daughter and child among Benjamin 's seven children , she has a problem with speaking , which may be a post-traumatic reaction to the death of their mother ; only later on does she finally open up . Her feelings towards her father change radically as the film progresses , and after Benjamin leaves from the furlough to rejoin his militia , in an extremely emotional scene , she seemingly forgives him and tells him she 'll say anything he wants to make him stay , to which Benjamin can only promise to return , which Susan accepts . </Li> <Li> Joely Richardson as Charlotte Selton Benjamin 's sister - in - law and love interest in the film . She is the owner of a plantation that is later burned down in the film . She looks after Benjamin 's children while he is fighting . </Li> <Li> Jason Isaacs as Colonel William Tavington Colonel of the Green Dragoons , he is portrayed as a charismatic sociopath and a brutal commander . Long ago , his late father wasted away the family money , along with William 's inheritance . He suggests to Cornwallis that he be allowed to acquire the Ohio territory as payment after the war since the brutality his commander wants from him sacrifices his social standing in English society . He is nicknamed `` The Butcher '' by Brigadier General O'Hara . The character is based on Banastre Tarleton . </Li> <Li> Chris Cooper as Colonel Harry Burwell One of Benjamin 's commanding officers in the French and Indian War and a colonel of the Continental Army . He fought in the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill . When his wife gives birth to their firstborn son , they name
who was mel gibson character in the patriot based on
who was mel gibson character in the patriot based on
Benjamin Martin
Benjamin Martin