Valjean, Jean

The Mayor of Montreuil-sur-mer, who assisted many residents of the town. Secretly, he is an ex-convict who served nineteen years of forced labor for stealing bread to feed his family. After a bishop he had robbed refused to turn him in and gave him silver candlesticks in addition to the silver plates he had stolen, Jean resolved to do good in the world whenever he can.
After attempting to help Cosette's mother, he rescues Cosette from the Thenardiers and raises her as his own daughter.