Frank Pearson

Not to be confused with Frank Pearson (baseball), Frank Pearson (footballer), or Frank Pearson (drag queen).

Frank Pearson (c. 1837–22 December 1899) was an Australian bushranger, operating under the pseudonym Captain Starlight.

Pearson claimed he was the inspiration for a fictional figure of the same pseudonym: the character Captain Starlight in Rolf Boldrewood's novel, of 1882–1883, Robbery Under Arms. Boldrewood, who presumably had some insight into the matter, denied the claim and stated that the character was a composite of several bushrangers of the era, including Henry Readford, and primarily Thomas Smith, alias Captain Midnight.[1] The cattle thief Readford did not use a pseudonym himself and had no connection with Captain Starlight until the author indicated a possible influence.

  1. ^ "Starlight, in "Robbery Under Arms."". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LXX, no. 2109. New South Wales, Australia. 8 December 1900. p. 1353. Retrieved 21 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.