Haytham Kenway is the playable character in the opening sequence of Assassin's Creed III.
The game begins with Haytham arriving in the American colonies in 1754. Players initially follow his investigation and activities before the narrative reveals his connection to the Templars and shifts to his son, Ratonhnhaké:ton, commonly known as Connor.
This structure is a notable feature of Assassin's Creed III because Haytham is not simply a brief non-player character. He is controlled through several opening sequences, allowing the game to establish the colonial setting and its Templar perspective before Connor's story takes over.
Haytham is the son of Edward Kenway from Black Flag and the father of Connor. George Washington and Charles Lee are historical figures who appear in the game, but neither is the opening playable character. The story later follows Connor during the American Revolution.