Enterprise’s Captain Archer Set A Record No Other Star Trek Captain Ever Matched
Star Trek: Enterprise's Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) made all kinds of history, including setting a record no other Captain of the Enterprise has ever matched. A Star Trek prequel set in the 22nd century, Enterprise retconned Archer as the first Captain of the Enterprise, preceding Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) by a century, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) by 200 years.
Commanding the NX-01 Enterprise, Starfleet's first Warp 5-capable starship, Captain Jonathan Archer led United Earth's first expedition into deep space. The NX-01 Enterprise made several First Contacts, and Archer forged several key alliances, including with the Andorians and the Tellarities. Archer's Enterprise laid the foundation for the formation of the United Federation of Planets. Hailed as the "greatest explorer of the 22nd century," Captain Archer was also honored in a unique way for his impact on the galaxy.
Star Trek: Enterprise’s Captain Archer Has Two Planets Named After Him
Archer IV & Archer's Planet Are Named For The First Captain Of The Enterprise
Captain Jonathan Archer is the only Captain of the Enterprise who has two Star Trek planets named after him. Star Trek: Enterprise season 1's third episode saw Captain Archer and his crew land on a strange new world that eventually received the designation Archer IV. However, the Earth-like planet was infested with a toxic pollen that drove Enterprise's crew into dangerous fits of paranoia.
Archer IV was considered uninhabitable until the 23rd century when an antidote was developed for the planetary pollen. Millions of people lived on Archer IV by the mid-23rd century. Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3's classic "Yesterday's Enterprise" first mentioned Archer IV, with the USS Enterprise-D giving Klingons "a pasting" in an alternate timeline.
In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) was charged with possession of illegal weapons under his alias, James Cole.
The second planet named after Captain Jonathan Archer is named, appropriately, Archer's Planet. However, Archer's Planet was never seen in Star Trek. It was only mentioned in a biography of Captain Archer seen in Star Trek: Enterprise's Mirror Universe-set two-parter, "In a Mirror, Darkly."
Archer Is The Only Star Trek Captain Who Became Federation President
Kirk & Picard Never Rose So High In The Federation
After his decade as Captain of the Enterprise, Jonathan Archer became one of the most distinguished leaders of both Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets. Archer was promoted to Admiral and named Chief of Staff, Starfleet Command. Archer then became an Ambassador to Andoria and a Federation Councilman. Finally, Jonathan Archer served as Federation President from 2184-2192.
Jonathan Archer died one day after watching the launch of the Constitution Class USS Enterprise NCC-1701 in 2245.
Both Captain Kirk and Captain Picard became Admiral, but neither took on official roles as Federation officials nor did they ever become President. Sadly, the crippling injury suffered by Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter/Anson Mount) ended his Starfleet career as Fleet Captain. Most of Captain Archer's legendary post-Starfleet career happened after Star Trek: Enterprise's four seasons, including the two planets named after him that are official Star Trek canon.
Star Trek: Enterprise
- Release Date
- 2005 - 2005-00-00
- Showrunner
- Brannon Braga
- Directors
- Brannon Braga
- Writers
- Brannon Braga
- Franchise(s)
- Star Trek
Cast
John Billingsley
- Creator(s)
- Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, Gene Roddenberry
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