Character guide

Ferdinand Lopez

major

Also known as Lopez, Mr. Lopez, Mr. Ferdinand Lopez, Poor Lopez

Ambitious and mysterious financier who marries into the Wharton family.

Emily Lopez

major

Also known as Emily, Emily Wharton, Mrs. Lopez, poor Emily

Daughter of Abel Wharton, whose marriage to Lopez causes family strife.

The Duchess of Omnium

major

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

Vivacious wife of the Prime Minister, deeply involved in political society.

Abel Wharton

major

Also known as Mr. Wharton, Mr. Abel Wharton, old Wharton, Abel

Wealthy, conservative barrister and father of Emily, opposed to Lopez.

Arthur Fletcher

major

Also known as Fletcher, Arthur, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Arthur Fletcher

Honest country gentleman and longtime suitor of Emily Wharton.

Everett Wharton

supporting

Also known as Everett, Everett Wharton, II Everett Wharton, dear Everett

Emily's brother, a charming but unreliable young man about town.

The Duke of Omnium

major

Also known as Plantagenet Palliser, Plantagenet, the Duke, Duke

The Prime Minister, a serious and principled man struggling with politics.

Phineas Finn

supporting

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

Loyal political colleague and friend of the Duke of Omnium.

Mrs. Finn

supporting

Also known as one Mrs. Finn, the Duchess Mrs. Finn, the present Mrs. Finn

Wise confidante to the Duchess and a sharp observer of society.

Sexty Parker

supporting

Also known as Sexty, Sexty Parker, poor Sexty, Parker

Business partner of Lopez who suffers financial ruin.

Sir Orlando Drought

supporting

Also known as Sir Orlando, Sir Orlando Drought, Drought, old Tory Sir Orlando Drought

Ambitious politician who challenges the Duke's leadership.

Quintus Slide

supporting

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

Vindictive journalist who persecutes Lopez and the Duke.

Mrs. Roby

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Dick Roby, Dick Roby, Roby, Mrs. Dick

Emily's aunt and a gossipy social climber.

John Fletcher

minor

Also known as John, a Fletcher, Mrs. John Fletcher, old Mrs. Fletcher

Arthur's brother, a solid country squire.

Mr. Rattler

minor

Also known as Rattler, Mr. Rattler of Mr. Roby

Political whip and ally of the Duke's government.

Mr. Gresham

minor

Also known as Gresham, Mr. Frank Gresham, Francis Gresham, Frank Gresham

Leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister.

Lady Eustace

minor

Also known as Lizzy Eustace, Lizzie, Lizzie Eustace, that horrid Lady Eustace

Beautiful and scheming widow who causes scandal.

Sir Timothy Beeswax

minor

Also known as Sir Timothy, Beeswax, Timothy, Lord Chancellor

Pompous politician and Lord Chancellor in the Duke's ministry.

Mary Wharton

minor

Also known as Mary, Bell, Mary Wharton

Emily's cousin and friend.

Major Pountney

minor

Also known as Pountney, The Major, the Major, Major

Social-climbing military man and hanger-on.

Barrington Erle

minor

Also known as Erle, Mr. Erle

Political operative and friend of the Duke.

Lord Cantrip

minor

Also known as Cantrip

Trusted cabinet minister and ally of the Duke.

Lord Mongrober

minor

Also known as the Mongrober, Mongrober, old Lord Mongrober

Elderly, eccentric peer.

Captain Gunner

minor

Also known as Gunner, Captain

Social-climbing military man and friend of Pountney.

Mr. Boffin

minor

Also known as Boffin, the wise Boffin

Wise and wealthy businessman consulted by Wharton.

Sir Alured Wharton

minor

Also known as Sir Alured, Sir Alured Wharton, This Wharton

Country baronet and relative of Abel Wharton.

Lady Wharton

minor

Also known as old Lady Wharton

Wife of Sir Alured Wharton.

Lord Silverbridge

minor

Also known as Silverbridge, the Silverbridge

Son of the Duke of Omnium, mentioned as a future MP.

Mr. Hartlepod

minor

Also known as Hartlepod

Business associate of Lopez involved in Guatemalan schemes.

Mr. Sprugeon

minor

Also known as Sprugeon

Political agent and party fund manager.

Lord Drummond

minor

Also known as Drummond

Cabinet minister in the Duke's government.

Mr. Warburton

minor

Also known as Warburton

Discreet private secretary to the Duke of Omnium.

Mr. Du Boung

minor

Also known as Du Boung

Foreign diplomat and acquaintance of Lopez.

Mr. Daubeny

minor

Also known as Daubeny

Leader of the Conservative party.

Sir Damask

minor

Minor politician and social figure.

Sprout

minor

Also known as Mr. Sprout

Political journalist and editor.

Lady Monogram

minor

Also known as Monogram

Fashionable society hostess.

Mr. Grey

minor

Also known as Grey

Lawyer and friend of the Wharton family.

Locock

minor

Also known as James Locock

Abel Wharton's clerk and trusted assistant.

Mr. Mills Happerton

minor

Also known as Mills Happerton, Mr. Happerton

Businessman and partner in Hunky and Sons.

Sir Gregory Grogram

minor

Also known as Sir Gregory, Grogram

Attorney General in the Duke's government.

Lord Brock

minor

Also known as Old Lord Brock, dear old Brock

Elderly statesman and former Prime Minister.

Harriet

minor

Also known as Aunt Harriet

Emily's aunt and companion.

Lord Earlybird

minor

Also known as poor Lord Earlybird, The Earl of Earlybird

Eccentric old peer and father of Lord Silverbridge's friend.

The Marquis of Tyrone

minor

Also known as Tyrone, Lord Tyrone

Aristocratic friend of Lord Silverbridge.

Mr. Turnbull

minor

Radical politician and orator.

Lord Chiltern

minor

Also known as Chiltern

Master of the Brake hounds and friend of Phineas Finn.

Dear old Jones

minor

Also known as Jones, Sarah, Sally Jones

Old family servant of the Whartons.

Mrs. Leslie

minor

Housekeeper at Wharton Hall.

Mr. Walker

minor

Also known as Walker

Lawyer consulted by Abel Wharton.

Lupton

minor

Also known as Mr. Lupton

Friend of Arthur Fletcher.

Mr. Millepois

minor

Also known as Millepois

French financier involved with Lopez.

Fitzgibbon

minor

Also known as Mr. Fitzgibbon, Larry Fitzgibbon, Mr. Laurence Fitzgibbon, Laurence Fitzgibbon

Irish MP and political colleague.

Mr. Mildmay

minor

Also known as a Mr. Mildmay

Elderly Liberal statesman.

Mr. Crumpy

minor

Also known as Crumpy

Political agent for Silverbridge election.

Lord Ramsden

minor

Also known as Ramsden

Minor peer and political figure.

Mr. Sugarscraps

minor

Also known as Sugarscraps

Political journalist and editor.

John Griffith

minor

Also known as young John

Young man who marries Mary Wharton.

Reginald Cotgrave

minor

Also known as Cotgrave, Reginald

Friend of Everett Wharton.

Sir Guy de Palliser

minor

Also known as Sir Guy

Legendary ancestor of the Duke of Omnium.

Mrs. Parker

minor

Also known as Mrs. Sexty Parker

Wife of Sexty Parker, suffers from her husband's ruin.

Mrs. Happerton

minor

Also known as Happerton

Wife of Mills Happerton.

Mrs. Boffin

minor

Also known as Boffin

Wife of Mr. Boffin.

Mrs. Pritchard

minor

Also known as Pritchard

Housekeeper at the Duke's London house.

Mr. Dixon

minor

Also known as Dixon

Lawyer and friend of Abel Wharton.

Mr. Mudie

minor

Also known as Mudie

Lending librarian mentioned in passing.

Lord Fawn

minor

Minor politician and former suitor of Lady Eustace.

Mr. Bott

minor

Minor political figure.

Lady Rosina De Courcy

minor

Also known as Lady Rosina

Impoverished aristocratic lady.

Charlie Skate

minor

Also known as Charles I

Young man about town and friend of Everett.

Cora

minor

Lady's maid to Emily Lopez.

Mrs. Grey

minor

Wife of Mr. Grey.

Grace

minor

Maid at Wharton Hall.

Jane

minor

Also known as Mary Jane, Mary

Servant in the Wharton household.

Marie

minor

Also known as May

French maid to Emily Lopez.