20th Century Hero in the 1870's
As the series progressed, it became clear that Paladin came from a well-to-do family, served as a Union cavalry officer during the Civil War, then at some point thereafter left for Frisco to assume his double-life of civilized sophisticate/rough-and-tumble gunfighter. At the prestigious Hotel Carlton, he lived a life of leisure and luxury. He liked the arts, fine food, brandy, cigars, gambling, acquiring knowledge, and he absolutely loved women. He dressed in the most expensive clothes of the day, and always had an appropriate quote at the ready, whether it be Shelley or Montaigne for a beguiling lady, or perhaps Socrates or Shakespeare for those of his own gender. He was able to speak several languages, play piano and compose his own symphonies, ascertain a bourbon's distillery with merely a small sip, and play chess (vs. himself, no less) according to the military tactics of various historical figures.