# Black Beauty — Character guide

> Key figures in Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

- [Black Beauty](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/black_beauty.md): The narrator and protagonist, a handsome black horse who experiences various owners and hardships.
- [Ginger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/ginger.md): A spirited chestnut mare who becomes Beauty's friend at Birtwick Park and later suffers cruelly.
- [Merrylegs](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/merrylegs.md): A cheerful, clever pony who serves children at Birtwick Park and later goes to the Blomefields.
- [John Manly](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/john_manly.md): The kind, wise head coachman at Birtwick Park who cares deeply for the horses.
- [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/james_howard.md): A young stable boy at Birtwick Park who later becomes a coachman.
- [Joe Green](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/joe_green.md): A young stable boy who replaces James and makes a serious mistake with Beauty's care.
- [Jeremiah Barker](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/jeremiah_barker.md): A kind, principled London cab driver who treats his horses with great respect.
- [Polly Barker](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/polly_barker.md): Jerry's loving and hardworking wife who helps run the household.
- [Squire Gordon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/squire_gordon.md): Beauty's first good master at Birtwick Park, who sells him due to illness.
- [Mr. York](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_york.md): The stern but fair coachman at Earlshall Park who tries to manage the ladies' whims.
- [Lady Anne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/lady_anne.md): A spirited young woman at Earlshall Park who rides Beauty in a dangerous runaway.
- [Reuben Smith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/reuben_smith.md): A skilled but alcoholic coachman at Earlshall Park whose drinking leads to tragedy.
- [Harry Barker](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/harry_barker.md): Jerry and Polly's son, who helps with the cab and learns his father's values.
- [Dolly Barker](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/dolly_barker.md): Jerry and Polly's young daughter, who loves the horses and her family.
- [Sir Oliver](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/sir_oliver.md): An old horse at Birtwick Park who tells Beauty about the cruelty of docking tails.
- [Hotspur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/hotspur.md): A high-spirited horse at Earlshall Park who is paired with Beauty.
- [Peggy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/peggy.md): A cab horse with a peculiar trot who works alongside Beauty in London.
- [Captain](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/captain.md): An old war horse who shares his tragic story with Beauty in the cab stables.
- [Seedy Sam](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/seedy_sam.md): A poor, overworked cab horse owner who dies from exhaustion and cruelty.
- [Jakes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/jakes.md): A carter who overloads Beauty and uses a bearing rein cruelly.
- [Mr. Thoroughgood](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/farmer_thoroughgood.md): A kind farmer who rescues Beauty from his worst condition and restores him.
- [Willie Thoroughgood](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/willie_thoroughgood.md): Farmer Thoroughgood's grandson who helps nurse Beauty back to health.
- [Colonel Blantyre](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/blantyre.md): A gentleman who rides Beauty during the Lady Anne runaway incident.
- [Lord W⸺](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/lord_w.md): The wealthy owner of Earlshall Park who buys Beauty from Squire Gordon.
- [Alfred Smirk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/alfred_smirk.md): A vain, cruel groom at Earlshall who mistreats the horses.
- [Max](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/max.md): An old horse at the Gordon farm who gives Beauty advice about breaking in.
- [Bill Starkey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/bill_starkey.md): A cruel boy who torments horses and later becomes a cab driver.
- [Dick Towler](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/dick_towler.md): A boy who throws stones at horses and is punished by Squire Gordon.
- [Thomas Green](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/thomas_green.md): A groom at Birtwick Park who helps care for the horses.
- [Mr. Barry](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_barry.md): A gentleman who briefly owns Beauty but is cheated by dishonest grooms.
- [Nicholas Skinner](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/nicholas_skinner.md): A cruel London cab owner who works his horses to death.
- [Lizzie](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/lizzie.md): A nervous mare at Earlshall Park who bolts with Lady Anne.
- [Miss Ellen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/miss_ellen.md): A kind young woman who rides Beauty at Birtwick Park.
- [Miss Jessie](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/miss_jessie.md): A young woman who rides Beauty at Birtwick Park.
- [Miss Flora](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/miss_flora.md): A young woman who rides Beauty at Birtwick Park.
- [Dr. White](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/dr_white.md): The veterinarian who treats Beauty and other horses.
- [Mrs. Briggs](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mrs_briggs.md): A lady who hires Jerry's cab and appreciates his kindness to horses.
- [Mr. Briggs](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_briggs.md): Mrs. Briggs' husband, who also hires Jerry's cab.
- [Sir Clifford Williams](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/sir_clifford_williams.md): A gentleman who hires Beauty for hunting at Earlshall Park.
- [Lord George](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/lord_george.md): A young nobleman who rides Beauty roughly during a hunt.
- [Mr. Grant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_grant.md): A horse dealer who sells Beauty to various owners.
- [Jack](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/jack.md): An old horse at the Gordon farm who is retired to pasture.
- [Dinah Brown](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/dinah_brown.md): A servant in the Barker household who helps with the children.
- [Rory](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/rory.md): A cab horse who works alongside Beauty in London.
- [Robert](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/robert.md): A groom at Birtwick Park who helps with the horses.
- [Mr. Smith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_smith.md): A horse dealer who sells Beauty to Mr. Barry.
- [Mr. B](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_b.md): A gentleman who hires Beauty for hunting and rides him hard.
- [Old Norman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/old_norman.md): An old horse at the Gordon farm who teaches Beauty about farm life.
- [Mr. Clay](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_clay.md): A farrier who shoes horses and gives advice on their care.
- [Wright](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/wright.md): A groom at Earlshall Park who helps care for the horses.
- [Mr. Bond](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_bond.md): A horse dealer who buys Beauty from Mr. Barry.
- [Governor Gray](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/governor_gray.md): A horse dealer who sells Beauty to Squire Gordon.
- [Braydon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/braydon.md): A groom at Earlshall Park who is kind to the horses.
- [Rob Roy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/rob_roy.md): Beauty's half-brother who is killed in a hunting accident.
- [Justice](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/justice.md): A horse at Birtwick Park who is a friend to Beauty.
- [Liberty](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/liberty.md): A horse at Birtwick Park who enjoys freedom in the field.
- [Martha Mulwash](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/martha_mulwash.md): A poor woman who hires Jerry's cab and receives his kindness.
- [Ned](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/ned.md): A groom at Earlshall Park who is careless with the horses.
- [Ladybird](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/ladybird.md): A gentle pony at Birtwick Park ridden by the children.
- [Susan](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/susan.md): A horse at the cab stables who is a friend to Beauty.
- [Larry](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/larry.md): A cab driver who works alongside Jerry in London.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/characters