[1] Hector is an 18-year-old orange-haired Colonial era patriot who turned up, often as an unsung hero, during various stages of American history.
While much of the cartoons were historical, occasionally some would focus on science, one example being where Hector talks through two tin cans and a piece of string, then is inspired by Winston to make use of electrical currents to upgrade such a device to travel long distances, thus inventing telecommunications.
Hector is motivated to find a way to communicate long distances after not desiring to deliver messages through "rain, sleet, nor gloom of night".
Conversely, Mr. Benedict attempts to sabotage the concept before Hector can patent it, as that would put his messenger service out of business.
Terrytoons made 20 Hector Heathcote cartoons between 1959 and 1971, directed by Arthur Bartsch, Dave Tendlar, Connie Rasinski, Bill Tytla and Bob Kuwahara.