Sir Ector

Sir Ector is a character from the Disney film The Sword in the Stone. He is a knight who is the father to Kay, and foster father to Arthur.

Background
Sir Ector is a rather plump character, with red hair, and a primitive attitude. He prefers more practical things like fighting and war training over educational pursuits. At some point, he adopted the orphaned Arthur. He is shown to be very strict with Arthur, derisively calling him Wart, while doting on his son Kay. He is extremely distrustful of magic, and thus of Merlin. After Arthur is revealed as the rightful king of England, he regrets his treatment of the boy, and begs for Arthur's forgiveness.

Role in The Sword in the Stone
Sir Ector first appears in his castle, waiting on Wart, who has disappeared into the woods. When Wart returns along with Merlin, he gives Wart demerits for his disbehavior. Though he initally refuses Merlin's offer to educate Wart, he is quickly convinced otherwise by a display of magic. Ector's friend Pellinore appears with news of a tournament on New Year's Day. Ector decides that Kay should be knighted and entered, as the winner's prize is ascension to the throne of England. Wart will accompany them as Kay's squire.

Ector is seen early the next morning, training Kay unsuccessfully. Later that day, after Wart returns from his lesson with Merlin, Ector punishes Wart for the strange story Wart tells about the lesson. Later, upon finding the Wart has snuck off with Merlin again, he finds the kitchen to have been bewitched by Merlin. Ector accuses Merlin of using black magic. When Wart defends Merlin, Ector piles on demerits, and finally, revokes Wart's privilage of being Kay's squire.

However, after Kay is knighted at Christmas, the replacement squire, a boy called Hobbs, catches the mumps. Ector is forced to reinstate Wart as the Squire. Ector later attends the tournament, and is shocked when Wart is revealed to have pulled the legendary Sword in the Stone, which is supposed to reveal the rightful heir to the throne. Wart had discovered the sword and had intended to use the sword as a replacement for Kay's sword, which Wart had forgotten to bring. After Wart is forced to repeat the feat, Ector kneels at Wart's feet and begs for forgiveness for his treatment of Wart. When the crowd asks for the boy's name, Ector almost calls him Wart, but catches himself and calls the boy Arthur. He then orders Kay to bow before his new King.