| File:Jonathan Archer.jpg | |
| Caption: | Captain Jonathan Archer in 2151 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Species: | Human |
| Father: | Henry Archer |
| Actor: | Scott Bakula |
Jonathan Archer (played by Scott Bakula) was Captain of the first full-fledged Starfleet starship, the Enterprise (NX-01). In that role, he was responsible for greatly expanding Earth's presence in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and making First Contact with more than a dozen species, among them the Klingons and the Xindi.
Born in the 2110s to Henry Archer, the renowned warp scientist. Despite being born in upstate New York, Archer spent his entire life in San Francisco. From an early age he wanted to join Starfleet; as a child he often built model spaceships with his father.
As a commander, Archer was one of four test pilots in the NX Program, and was ultimately selected as the captain of Enterprise.
In March 2152, after it appeared his ship's mission was over because of the destruction of the mining colony on Paraagan II, Archer was transported to April 9, 2151 by Crewman Daniels, who revealed the Suliban were responsible for what had happened. Returning to 2152, Archer used knowledge given to him by Daniels to board a Suliban stealth-cruiser and prove what they had done. As a result, Silik demanded Archer, and to save him Daniels transported him to the 31st Century, causing a major disruption in the timeline that apparently destroyed Earth. Archer and Daniels were able to repair the timeline, but Archer managed to learn that he was vital to the creation of a "United Federation of Planets" in the future. (ENT: "Shockwave, Parts I and II")
In late 2152, Archer was captured by the Klingons after assisting Rha'Daran rebels. Put on trial on Narendra III, he was sentenced to labor in the dilithium mines on Rura Penthe, but managed to escape. (ENT: "Judgment") He was hunted by the Klingons for this offense, at first through bounty hunters like Skalaar (ENT: "Bounty") and then directly by Duras. (ENT: "The Expanse")
In Semptember 2153 Archer was transformed into a Loque'eque. Even after being cured by Phlox, Archer continued to suffer from a residual infection and strange dreams of the Loque'eque city. (ENT: "Rajiin")
In February 2154 Archer was believed to have been killed having been aboard the Xindi Weapon as it exploded while approaching Earth. Inexplicably, a badly burned but alive Archer was found on Earth and taken to a Nazi field hospital, apparently at some point during World War II.