James Marcus

James Marcus was a brilliant scientist who became one of the three founding members of the Umbrella Corporation, and creator of the original varient of T-Virus.

Early Years
Born in 1918, Marcus befriended Edward Ashford during his studies at university, where he quickly proved himself an expert on biology and virology. After leaving university, Marcus and Ashford became research partners, and began pursueing research into the Progenitor Virus, and enlisted the aid of one of Marcus' old friends from college; Lord Ozwell E. Spencer, who provided enough funding that they discovered the virus in 1967.

Marcus and Ashford held ideas for the new-found virus to benefit the medical community, while Spencer instead believed it could be used to create a powerful biological weapon.

To mask their research and motives, the three scientists formed the Umbrella Corporation, drawing massive profits and political authorization for them to continue their research. All of their sinister intentions were camouflaged with the image of a benevolent, trustworthy and highly-respected pharmaceutical company, which itself soon gained in prominence.

In 1968, Marcus reached the position of General Manager and Research and Development Director, and was appointed head of the Umbrella Corporation Management Training Facility in the Arklay Mountains. While Ashford assisted him, Spencer took over the corporation's financial duties.

Marcus continued his research into the virus, and in the 1970s, managed to create the original varient of T-Virus (by combining leech DNA with Progenitor), which in turn would lead to further research into the virus, creation of the G-Virus and creation of Umbrella's line of B.O.W.s. This remarkable find gave Marcus much attention and prestige from his fellow researchers, though Spencer, intimidated by his findings, began to grow increasingly paranoid of Marcus.

Taking a break from his research, Marcus took two of the most promising researchers; William Birkin and Albert Wesker, as his protege's. While teaching them to be responsible scientists, Marcus intended to use his findings to gain a place on the company's Board of Directors. Before he could present them, Spencer intervened, by officially transferring the T-Virus Project's development to the Arklay Research Facility.

Working at Arklay
During the 1980’s, Marcus was all but confined to the research facility, now located in the depths of the Spencer Mansion. Continuing the virus' experimentation, such as creating the first B.O.W's, learning more about the T-Virus' potential. Soon, Marcus' isolation took it's toll on him mentally, eventually using his own coworkers as guinea pigs. After no less than 20 of them were used, Marcus made tremendous strides towards completing the off-shoot of the T-Virus Project; the Tyrant Project.

Assassination
Spencer's paranoia culminated, and he ordered Wesker and Birkin to assassinate Marcus whilst he least expected it. This occured on a mundane day in 1988, when Wesker, Birkin and a team of Umbrella Special Forces Commandos stormed into Marcus' laboratory, and gunned him down. As the Commando's departed with the stolen T-Virus research, Marcus, dying on the ground, was approached by the leeches who escaped from the containment cell after it was broken by gunfire. The leeches, sensing their "father" in pain, entered his body via his esophagus and gunshot wounds, and bonded with his DNA, allowing him to regenerate, no longer human. In terms of appearance, Marcus was reborn with his physical characteristics of him in his early-20's. With time, Marcus learned to control and expertly manipulate the leeches, considering them children.

Vengeance
Marcus, consumed with hatred, vowed a terrible revenge on Spencer and all of Umbrella for their attempts on his life that cost him his humanity. To this end, Marcus unleashed the T-Virus upon the Arklay Research Facility, the Management Training Facility, and then attacked the Ecliptic Express, a personal company train devoted to luxuriously transporting Umbrella employees. All the inhabitants of the train were killed and instantly mutated into “Zombies” due to the high concentrations of the T-Virus Marcus unleashed. Marcus effortlessly shirked off USS Commando's attempts to clean up the source of the biohazard. In control of the situation, Marcus displayed a video transmission across the training facility, where Wesker and Birkin remained in hiding from the zombie population, threatening towards his betrayers that they would pay for their act of betrayal.

Death
When S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team Officer Rebecca Chambers and Ex-USMC Second Lieutenant Billy Coen were lost in the forests of Arklay, hunted by B.O.W's, they soon encountered several creatures and Marcus mimics during their search of the train and training facility. Eventually, Rebecca and Billy confronted Marcus himself, in an underground location under the facility. Upon revealing details regarding his mortal demise, Marcus mutated into Queen Leech. Although Queen Leech was impervious to small-arms fire, Rebecca and Billy managed to defeat it by exposing it to sunlight, it's one weakness, and finished off what's left of James Marcus with a single bullet.