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He can be considered a fellow adventurer, as he mentions helping Junktown with their lights and Shady Sands with their wells, similar to what the Vault Dweller does. He's the descendant of an Americanized Celtic family with a strong desire to keep his "ethnic heritage" alive. To this end, he collects clothing, food, stories, songs, and histories as he travels the wastes. Regardless of whether or not the British Isles still exist, Patrick is determined to preserve his history.
His expertise and historical knowledge can rub off on the Vault Dweller, improving the player's Charisma through dialogue options. He can also tell the player some information about different towns in the wasteland.
The background information presented in this article comes from Jess Heinig, the designer who wrote Patrick's dialogue, and appeared in Fallout Bible 9.