Character guide

Phineas Finn

major

Also known as Mr. Finn, Mr. Phineas Finn, Finn, Phineas, poor Phineas

Irish MP and former minister, returns to politics and faces a murder trial.

Lady Laura Kennedy

major

Also known as Lady Laura, Laura, Laura Kennedy, Kennedy, poor Lady Laura

Phineas's former love, now unhappily married to Robert Kennedy.

Gerard Maule

supporting

Also known as Gerard, Maule, Mr. Gerard Maule

A gentleman and horseman, in love with Adelaide Palliser.

Lord Chiltern

supporting

Also known as Chiltern, Dear Lord Chiltern

Master of the Brake hounds and Phineas's loyal friend.

Mr. Bonteen

supporting

Also known as Bonteen, Planty Pall, Planty, dreadful Mr. Bonteen

A rival politician who becomes Phineas's bitter enemy.

Mr. Daubeny

supporting

Also known as Daubeny, V Mr. Daubeny

Conservative leader who proposes a controversial bill to stay in power.

Lady Chiltern

supporting

Also known as Chiltern, dear Lady Chiltern

Formerly Violet Effingham, now the supportive wife of Lord Chiltern.

Barrington Erle

supporting

Also known as Mr. Ratler, Barrington, Ratler, Erle, Mr. Erle

A Liberal whip and political insider who manages party affairs.

Mr. Gresham

supporting

Also known as Gresham, the Gresham, Now Mr. Gresham

Liberal Prime Minister who leads the government.

Madame Max Goesler

major

Also known as Madame Goesler, Madame, Marie Goesler, Marie

A wealthy widow and close friend who helps Phineas in his crisis.

Duchess of Omnium

supporting

Also known as Duchess, Lady Glencora, Glencora, Lady Glencora Palliser

The energetic and scheming wife of the Duke of Omnium.

Adelaide Palliser

supporting

Also known as Adelaide, Palliser, Miss Palliser, Miss Adelaide Palliser

A young heiress courted by Gerard Maule and others.

Mr. Low

minor

Also known as Low, Even Mr. Low

Phineas's former mentor and a barrister who advises him.

Mr. Spooner

minor

Also known as Spooner, Spooner of Spoon Hall, poor Mr. Spooner

A clumsy suitor to Adelaide Palliser, owner of Spoon Hall.

Quintus Slide

supporting

Also known as Mr. Slide, Slide, Mr. Quintus Slide

A disreputable journalist who persecutes Phineas in the press.

Robert Kennedy

supporting

Also known as Mr. Kennedy, Kennedy, poor Mr. Kennedy, Robert

Lady Laura's wealthy but mentally unstable husband.

Mr. Chaffanbrass

supporting

Also known as Chaffanbrass, old Chaffanbrass

A brilliant but eccentric barrister who defends Phineas at trial.

Sir Gregory Grogram

minor

Also known as Grogram, Sir Gregory, Gregory Grogram

The Attorney General who prosecutes Phineas for murder.

Lord Fawn

minor

Also known as Fawn, poor Lord Fawn

A nervous government official who gives key evidence at the trial.

Mr. Monk

minor

Also known as Monk, the Right Honourable Mr. Monk

A senior Liberal statesman and Phineas's political ally.

Mr. Browborough

minor

Also known as Browborough, the unfortunate Mr. Browborough, poor Mr. Browborough

A corrupt MP whose bribery trial opens a seat for Phineas.

Lady Eustace

minor

Also known as Eustace, Lizzie Eustace, Lizzie, poor Lizzie Eustace

A beautiful and scheming widow involved with Mr. Emilius.

Lord Cantrip

minor

Also known as Cantrip

A cabinet minister and friend who supports Phineas.

Mr. Emilius

supporting

Also known as Emilius, the Reverend Mr. Emilius, Joseph Emilius

A fraudulent clergyman and bigamist who becomes a suspect.

Plantagenet Palliser

supporting

Also known as Mr. Palliser, Palliser, Plantagenet

The Duke of Omnium, a serious politician and husband of Glencora.

Mr. Wickerby

minor

Also known as Wickerby

A solicitor who handles Phineas's legal affairs.

Mrs. Bunce

minor

Also known as Bunce, And Bunce

Phineas's loyal landlady who supports him during his trial.

Yosef Mealyus

minor

Also known as Mealyus, Yosef

A foreigner who provides a crucial alibi for Phineas.

Ned Spooner

minor

Also known as Mr. Edward Spooner, Ned, Mr. Spooner

A younger relative of Mr. Spooner, also interested in Adelaide.

Violet Effingham

minor

Also known as Violet

Now Lady Chiltern, Phineas's former love and loyal friend.

Mr. Ruddles

minor

Also known as Ruddles

Phineas's election agent in Tankerville.

Mr. Bunce

minor

Mrs. Bunce's husband, a rough but honest man.

Laurence Fitzgibbon

minor

Also known as Fitzgibbon, Laurence, the Honourable Laurence Fitzgibbon

An Irish MP and friend of Phineas, often in financial trouble.

Mrs. Maule

minor

Also known as Mr. and Mrs. Maule

Gerard Maule's mother, concerned about his marriage prospects.

Lady Baldock

minor

Also known as Baldock, This Lady Baldock

A conservative society matron and relative of Lady Laura.

Lord Brentford

minor

Lady Laura's father, the Earl of Brentford.

Mr. Turnbull

minor

Also known as Turnbull

A radical MP and political opponent of Phineas.

George Kennedy

minor

Also known as Mr. George Kennedy, Kennedy, George

Robert Kennedy's brother, who manages the estate.

Mr. Meager

minor

Also known as Meager

A poor man whose daughter is involved in the murder case.

Mrs. Low

minor

Also known as Poor Mrs. Low

Mr. Low's wife, who disapproves of Phineas's political life.

Mr. Fothergill

minor

Also known as Fothergill, poor Mr. Fothergill

The Duke of Omnium's agent at Matching.

Mr. Molescroft

minor

Also known as Molescroft

A great attorney from Tankerville who advises Phineas.

Mrs. Macpherson

minor

Also known as Macpherson

Owner of the hotel where Phineas stays in London.

Lady Hartletop

minor

Also known as Dear Lady Hartletop, Old Lady Hartletop

An elderly society figure and friend of the Duchess.

Sir Harry Coldfoot

minor

Also known as Sir Henry Coldfoot, Sir Harry

A government minister involved in the political maneuvering.

Sir Orlando Drought

minor

Also known as Sir Orlando

A Conservative MP and political figure.

The Old Duke of Omnium

minor

Also known as the Duke of Omnium, Duke, The late Duke

The elderly former Duke, now in his second childhood.

Mrs. Meager

minor

Also known as the Meager

Mr. Meager's wife, mother of a key witness.

Earl of Brentford

minor

Also known as Earl, the old Earl, the Earl, Brentford

Lady Laura's father, a former cabinet minister.

Lady Cantrip

minor

Wife of Lord Cantrip, a society hostess.

Mr. Boffin

minor

A minor political figure and MP.

Major Mackintosh

minor

A police officer involved in the murder investigation.

Tom Spooner

minor

Also known as Thomas Platter Spooner, Thomas Spooner, Tom

Another Spooner relative, a young man about town.

Mr. Forster

minor

Also known as Forster

A barrister involved in the trial proceedings.

Duke of St. Bungay

minor

Also known as the Duke of St. Bungay, St. Bungay, Duke

An elder statesman and advisor to the Liberal party.

Sir Simon Slope

minor

Also known as Slope, Sir Simon

A judge who presides over Phineas's trial.

Mr. Scruby

minor

A solicitor involved in the Browborough bribery case.

Mr. Roby

minor

Also known as Roby

A Conservative whip and political operative.

Mrs. Atterbury

minor

A friend of Madame Goesler's in Vienna.

Lady Glen

minor

A nickname for Lady Glencora Palliser.

Sir Omicron Pie

minor

Also known as Sir Omicron

A doctor who testifies about Robert Kennedy's sanity.

Mr. Troddles

minor

Also known as Troddles

A minor political figure and MP.

Mr. Mildmay

minor

Also known as poor old Mildmay, Dear old Mildmay, dear old Mr. Mildmay

A former Liberal Prime Minister, now retired.

Lady Gertrude Fitzaskerley

minor

Also known as Lady Gertrude

A society lady and friend of the Duchess.

Miss Meager

minor

Also known as Meager

Daughter of the Meager family, a witness in the case.

Amelia Robsart

minor

Also known as Amelia, Amy Robsart

A young woman briefly mentioned in connection with Lord Fawn.

Adelaide Muggins

minor

Also known as Adelaide

A woman jokingly suggested as a match for Mr. Spooner.

Colonel Mowbray Dick

minor

Also known as Mowbray Dick

A military man and friend of Lord Chiltern.

Mr. Gadmire

minor

Also known as Gadmire

A minor character involved in the hunting set.

Laura Standish

minor

Also known as Lady Laura Standish

Lady Laura's maiden name, used in early references.

Miss Fitzgibbon

minor

Laurence Fitzgibbon's sister.

Lord Mount Thistle

minor

A minor peer and political figure.

Baron Boultby

minor

Also known as Mr. Baron Boultby

A judge who presides over the Browborough trial.

Mr. Pickering

minor

Also known as Pickering

A lawyer involved in the legal proceedings.

Viscount Fawn

minor

Lord Fawn's formal title.

Legge Wilson

minor

Also known as Legge

A friend of Lord Cantrip's.

Lord Drummond

minor

A minor political figure.

Mr. Parkinson Seymour

minor

A minor character mentioned in political contexts.