Character guide

Frank Algernon Cowperwood

major

Also known as Frank, Frank Cowperwood, young Cowperwood, Mr. Cowperwood, Cowperwood

Ambitious financier whose career and personal life drive the novel's plot.

Aileen Butler

major

Also known as Aileen, Butler, old Butler

Fiery daughter of Edward Butler, becomes Cowperwood's mistress and later wife.

George W. Stener

supporting

Also known as Stener, Mr. Stener, Treasurer Stener, George

City treasurer whose corruption and weakness entangle him with Cowperwood.

Edward Malia Butler

supporting

Also known as Mr. Butler, Butler, Edward Butler, Eddie

Powerful political boss and father of Aileen, initially Cowperwood's ally.

Henry Worthington Cowperwood

supporting

Also known as Henry Cowperwood, Henry, Mr. Cowperwood, old Cowperwood

Frank's father, a conservative banker who supports his son's ambitions.

Mrs. Henry W. Cowperwood

minor

Also known as Mrs. Cowperwood, Henry Cowperwood

Frank's mother, a quiet and supportive presence in the family.

Lillian Cowperwood

supporting

Also known as Lillian, little Lillian

Frank's first wife, a gentle woman who struggles with his ambition.

Mrs. Frank Cowperwood

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Cowperwood, Frank Cowperwood

Frank's second wife, Aileen, after their marriage.

Harper Steger

supporting

Also known as Steger, Mr. Steger, Harper

Cowperwood's shrewd and loyal lawyer.

Judge Wilbur Payderson

minor

Also known as Judge Payderson, Wilbur Payderson, Payderson

Presiding judge at Cowperwood's trial.

Walter Bonhag

minor

Also known as Bonhag, Mr. Bonhag

A prison guard who becomes an antagonist to Cowperwood.

Mrs. Butler

minor

Also known as Butler, old Butler

Edward Butler's wife and Aileen's mother.

Norah

minor

Also known as Honey

A young woman who becomes Cowperwood's mistress in Chicago.

Mr. Shannon

minor

Also known as Shannon

District attorney who prosecutes Cowperwood.

Anna Adelaide Cowperwood

minor

Also known as Anna, Anna Adelaide, Cowperwood

Frank's sister, a minor family member.

Henry A. Mollenhauer

supporting

Also known as Mollenhauer, Henry Mollenhauer, Mr. Mollenhauer

A powerful political and financial rival of Cowperwood.

Mark Simpson

minor

Also known as Simpson, Senator Simpson, Senator Mark Simpson, Mark

A corrupt state senator allied with Cowperwood's enemies.

Albert Stires

minor

Also known as Stires, Albert, Mr. Stires

Cowperwood's loyal clerk and later business associate.

Callum Butler

minor

Also known as Callum, Butler

One of Edward Butler's sons.

Mamie Calligan

minor

Also known as Mamie

A servant in the Cowperwood household.

Charles Ackerman

minor

Also known as Ackerman

A minor clerk in Cowperwood's office.

Mrs. Semple

minor

Also known as Semple

Lillian Cowperwood's sister.

Warden Michael Desmas

minor

Also known as Desmas, Warden Desmas

Warden of the prison where Cowperwood is incarcerated.

Jonas Alderson

minor

Also known as Alderson

A minor political figure and ally of Cowperwood.

Mrs. Stener

minor

Also known as Stener

George Stener's wife.

Uncle Seneca

minor

Also known as Seneca

Frank's uncle, a wealthy and domineering relative.

Edward Strobik

minor

Also known as Strobik, Edward, Ed

A corrupt city councilman.

Mr. Semple

minor

Also known as Semple

Lillian Cowperwood's brother-in-law.

Eddie Zanders

minor

Also known as Zanders, Edward, Ed

A prison guard who torments Cowperwood.

Sister Sempronia

minor

A nun who appears briefly in the narrative.

Mr. Martinson

minor

Also known as Martinson

A minor business associate of Cowperwood.

Hibbs

minor

A minor clerk in the city treasurer's office.

Henry Waterman Sr.

minor

Also known as Henry Waterman, Henry, Sr.

A wealthy businessman and associate of Cowperwood.

Frank Cowperwood Jr.

minor

Also known as Frank, Little Frank

Cowperwood's young son.

Avery Stone

minor

Also known as Jay Cooke, Cooke

A prominent banker and rival of Cowperwood.

Mr. Chapin

minor

Also known as Chapin, old Chapin

A minor business figure in Philadelphia.

Mr. Ellsworth

minor

Also known as Ellsworth

A minor character involved in Cowperwood's affairs.

Walter Leigh

minor

Also known as Lee, Leigh, Walter

A young man who socializes with Cowperwood.

Stephen Wingate

minor

Also known as Wingate

A business associate of Cowperwood.

Seneca Davis

minor

Also known as Seneca, Mrs. Seneca Davis

A relative of the Cowperwood family.

Sheriff Jaspers

minor

Also known as Jaspers

The sheriff involved in Cowperwood's arrest.

Arthur Rivers

minor

Also known as Mr. Arthur Rivers, Rivers

A minor character in the legal world.

Francis J. Grund

minor

Also known as Grund, Frank

A minor political figure.

W. C. Davison

minor

Also known as President Davison, Davison

President of a bank Cowperwood deals with.

Abner Sengstack

minor

Also known as Sengstack, Mr. Sengstack

A minor business associate.

Mr. Simpson

minor

Also known as Simpson

A minor political figure, possibly related to Mark Simpson.

Edward Tighe

minor

Also known as Tighe, Mr. Tighe

A minor business figure.

Joseph Cowperwood

minor

Also known as Cowperwood

Frank's younger brother.

Mrs. Katharine Calligan

minor

Also known as Mrs. Calligan, Katy

A servant in the Cowperwood household.

Terrence Relihan

minor

Also known as Relihan

A minor character in the prison setting.

Joseph Zimmerman

minor

Also known as Joe, Joseph, Zimmerman

A minor business figure.

George Waterman

minor

Also known as George, Waterman, Mr. George Waterman

A minor business associate.

Richard Pethick

minor

Also known as Pethick

A minor character in the legal world.

Jacob Harmon

minor

Also known as Harmon

A minor business figure.

Henry Waterman Jr.

minor

Also known as Mr. Henry Waterman, Mr. Waterman, Waterman

Son of Henry Waterman Sr., a business associate.

Mrs. Mollenhauer

minor

Also known as Mollenhauer

Henry Mollenhauer's wife.

Roger Kendall

minor

Also known as Kendall

A minor character in the financial world.

Thomas Kuby

minor

Also known as Kuby

A minor character in the prison setting.

Adlai Jaspers

minor

Also known as Jaspers

A minor character, possibly related to Sheriff Jaspers.

Father David

minor

Also known as David, Father

A priest who appears briefly.

Skelton C. Wheat

minor

Also known as Wheat, Mr. Wheat

A minor business figure.

Mr. Dalrymple

minor

Also known as Dalrymple

A minor character involved in a business transaction.

Dennis Shannon

minor

Also known as Shannon

A minor political figure.

Philip Moultrie

minor

A minor character in the legal world.

John Brown

minor

Also known as John

A minor character, possibly a servant.

Marjorie Stafford

minor

Also known as Marjorie, Mamie

A young woman who socializes with Cowperwood.

Judge Kitchen

minor

Also known as Kitchen

A judge who presides over a minor legal matter.

Father Michel

minor

Also known as Father

A priest who appears briefly.

Frewen Kasson

minor

Also known as Kasson

A minor political figure.

Mr. Pinkerton

minor

Also known as This Mr. Pinkerton

A minor character in the business world.

Wash Sims

minor

Also known as Wash, Wash Sims

A minor character in the prison setting.

John Sparkheaver

minor

Also known as John, old John

A minor character, possibly a servant.

Wilton Ellsworth

minor

Also known as Ellsworth, young Ellsworth

A minor character, possibly related to Mr. Ellsworth.

Thomas Wycroft

minor

Also known as Wycroft, Councilmen Wycroft

A corrupt city councilman.

David Pettie

minor

Also known as Mr. David Pettie, Mr. Pettie, Pettie

A minor business figure.

Edward Clark

minor

Also known as Clark, Edward

A minor character in the legal world.

Julian Bode

minor

Also known as Van Nostrand, Bode

A minor character in the business world.

Jacob Borchardt

minor

Also known as Mr. Jacob Borchardt, Borchardt

A minor business figure.

Judge Rafalsky

minor

Also known as Rafalsky

A judge who presides over a minor legal matter.