Persuasion

Sir Walter Elliot

Also known as Walter Elliot

Baronet of Kellynch Hall and father of Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Proud of his rank and appearance, he is in debt and moves to Bath after letting Kellynch Hall; he accepts Anne’s marriage to Captain Wentworth once impressed by Wentworth’s wealth and appearance.

Elizabeth Elliot

Also known as Miss Elliot

Sir Walter’s eldest daughter, known for her beauty and pride in her family’s rank. She runs the household and is especially close to her father; she remains unmarried after Mr Elliot leaves Bath.

Anne Elliot

Also known as Miss Anne

Sir Walter’s middle daughter, thoughtful and gentle, whose advice is often overlooked by her family. She once broke off her engagement to Captain Frederick Wentworth at Lady Russell’s urging, but they reunite and marry.

Mary Elliot Musgrove

Also known as Mary · Mrs Charles Musgrove · Mrs Charles

Sir Walter’s youngest daughter and Charles Musgrove’s wife. Often self-absorbed and eager for social consequence, she is Anne’s sister and is pleased by Anne’s marriage.

James Stevenson

Elizabeth Elliot’s maternal grandfather, identified as Lady Elliot’s father; he is mentioned but does not appear.

Lady Elliot

Also known as Elizabeth Elliot’s mother

The late wife of Sir Walter and mother of Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Remembered as sensible and amiable, she helped maintain the family’s finances and relied on Lady Russell to guide her daughters.

Lady Russell

A wealthy widow, close friend of the late Lady Elliot, and godmother and trusted confidante of Anne. She persuaded Anne to end her engagement to Captain Wentworth, but eventually comes to love him as a son-in-law.

William Walter Elliot, Esq.

Also known as Mr Elliot

Sir Walter’s great-grandson and heir presumptive, once expected by Elizabeth to become her husband. Mrs Smith reveals that he married for money and helped ruin her and her late husband; he courts Anne while seeking to protect his inheritance, but withdraws after she becomes engaged to Wentworth, then takes Mrs Clay to London under his protection.

Mr Shepherd

Also known as John Shepherd

A cautious lawyer and agent to Sir Walter who advises the Elliots on their finances and arranges the letting of Kellynch Hall.

Mrs Clay

Also known as Penelope

Mr Shepherd’s clever, separated daughter, who has two children and is Elizabeth’s companion. Anne considers her a potentially dangerous influence on Sir Walter; she gives up that scheme for Mr Elliot and is later established under his protection in London.

Admiral Croft

A wealthy, good-humoured rear admiral who rents Kellynch Hall with his wife, Sophy. He served at Trafalgar and in the East Indies, and is now in Bath for gout treatment.

Mrs Croft

Also known as Sophy

Admiral Croft’s practical, shrewd wife and Captain Frederick Wentworth’s sister. She has spent much of her married life at sea and lives with her husband at Kellynch Hall and later in Bath.

Mr Wentworth

Also known as Edward

A clergyman, formerly curate of Monkford and brother of Captain Frederick Wentworth. He is married and lives in Shropshire, where Captain Wentworth stays for six weeks.

Governor Trent

Also known as old Governor Trent

A former resident of Monkford, recalled by Mr Shepherd and Sir Walter; he does not appear.

Sir Basil Morley

Also known as Sir Basil

An acquaintance of Sir Walter who once identified Admiral Baldwin to him; he is mentioned but does not appear.

Lord St Ives

A peer whom Sir Walter cites as an example of the navy raising men of obscure birth to high rank. He is mentioned but does not appear.

Admiral Baldwin

A naval officer whom Sir Walter recalls as looking far older than his actual age. He is mentioned but does not appear.

Captain Frederick Wentworth

Also known as Frederick Wentworth · Captain Wentworth · Frederick

A successful naval officer and brother of Mr Wentworth and Mrs Croft, once deeply in love with Anne Elliot. After years of separation, jealousy, and misunderstanding, he and Anne reunite and marry; he later helps Mrs Smith recover her late husband’s West Indian property.

Charles Musgrove

Also known as Charles

Mary’s husband and the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Musgrove. Good-natured and agreeable, he enjoys shooting and is father to two boys; he facilitates Anne and Wentworth’s final conversation by giving Wentworth his place beside her.

Mr Musgrove

Charles Musgrove’s father and owner of the Great House at Uppercross. He is hospitable and friendly, and is affected by memories of his late son Richard.

Mrs Musgrove

Charles Musgrove’s mother, a hospitable woman fond of her grandchildren. She grieves over her late son Richard, is grateful to Captain Wentworth for having once cared for him, and warmly welcomes Anne.

Henrietta Musgrove

Also known as Henrietta

One of Charles Musgrove’s younger sisters, a lively, accomplished young woman engaged to her cousin Charles Hayter. Her family accepts the match and the couple marry after a long engagement.

Louisa Musgrove

Also known as Louisa · Miss Louisa Musgrove

One of Charles Musgrove’s younger sisters, a lively young woman who admired Captain Wentworth and valued firmness of character. After recovering from a serious head injury from a fall on the Cobb, she becomes engaged to Captain Benwick.

Charles Musgrove’s elder son

Also known as Little Charles

Mary and Charles Musgrove’s young son, who was injured in a fall and cared for by Anne.

Walter Musgrove

Mary and Charles Musgrove’s younger son, a sturdy two-year-old who clambers on Anne while she tends his injured brother.

Jemima

The Musgroves’ nursery-maid, whom Mary considers exceptionally trustworthy and steady. She helps look after the children and tells Mary about a sore throat circulating locally.

The upper house-maid

An unnamed servant in the Musgrove household whom Mary accuses of neglecting her duties and inviting Jemima out walking.

The laundry-maid

An unnamed servant in the Musgrove household whom Mary accuses of neglecting her duties and inviting Jemima out walking.

Mackenzie

A gardener at Kellynch who helps Anne identify which of Elizabeth’s plants are intended for Lady Russell.

The narrator

An unnamed third-person narrator who recounts the story and comments on the characters and their circumstances.

Richard Musgrove

Also known as Dick Musgrove · poor Richard · poor Dick

The late, troublesome younger son of Mr and Mrs Musgrove, sent to sea because he was difficult at home and died abroad before turning twenty. He served for six months under Captain Wentworth aboard the Laconia, and his parents have found admiring letters he wrote about the captain.

Charles Hayter

Also known as Cousin Charles

The eldest Musgrove cousin, an amiable young clergyman and eldest son of Mr and Mrs Hayter. Long attached to Henrietta, he marries her after securing a living.

Mr Hayter

Charles Hayter’s father and Mr Musgrove’s brother-in-law. He has some property, though far less than Mr Musgrove.

Mrs Hayter

Also known as the Musgroves’ aunt

Mr Musgrove’s sister and mother of Charles Hayter and the other Hayter cousins. Her family lives at Winthrop.

Dr Shirley

Also known as the rector

The elderly rector of Uppercross, who has served for more than forty years and is now too infirm to manage all his duties. He has promised Charles Hayter a curacy.

Mr Robinson

Also known as the apothecary

The apothecary called to examine the injured Charles Musgrove’s elder son. He replaces the child’s dislocated collarbone and offers reassurance.

Lady Mary Grierson

A lady whom the Crofts might have been asked to take aboard their ship with her daughters; she is mentioned but does not appear.

Captain Harville

Also known as Harville

A fellow naval officer and friend of Captain Wentworth. Warm and resourceful, with a lingering injury, he and his family welcome the party at Lyme; he remains a close friend to the newly married Anne and Wentworth.

Mrs Harville

Captain Harville’s wife, whom Captain Wentworth once transported with her family from Portsmouth to Plymouth. An experienced, generous nurse and mother, she brings her children to stay at Uppercross while Louisa recovers.

The Miss Hayters

Also known as the female Hayter cousins

Charles Hayter’s unnamed sisters, part of the family of cousins at Winthrop. Captain Wentworth admired them alongside Henrietta and Louisa.

Captain Benwick

Also known as James · James Benwick

A young naval officer, formerly first lieutenant aboard the Laconia, who mourned his fiancée Fanny Harville. He became close to Anne during his grief and is now engaged to Louisa Musgrove.

Fanny Harville

Captain Harville’s sister and Captain Benwick’s late fiancée. She died while Benwick was at sea, shortly after his promotion.

Mrs Shirley

Dr Shirley’s wife, mentioned as sharing his life at Uppercross; Henrietta believes she would welcome living near her relations at Lyme.

The Lyme surgeon

Also known as the surgeon

An unnamed surgeon summoned after Louisa’s fall on the Cobb. He finds a severe head contusion but does not consider her case hopeless.

Sarah

Also known as the old nursery-maid of the family · the old nursery-maid

The Musgroves’ longtime nursery-maid, now living in the family’s old nursery. She goes to Lyme to help nurse Louisa.

Colonel Wallis

Mr Elliot’s intimate friend, a respectable military man living in Marlborough Buildings in Bath. He introduces the Elliots to his wife and provides their account of Mr Elliot’s marriage; Mrs Smith says he knows of Elliot’s designs on Anne and helped him renew his place in the Elliot family.

Mrs Wallis

Colonel Wallis’s wife, described by Mr Elliot and Sir Walter as beautiful and charming. During the passage she is expecting a child and is attended by Mrs Rooke; she is also the source of reports about Mr Elliot’s intentions toward Anne.

The butler

An unnamed servant in the Elliot household who helps usher Mr Elliot into the drawing room.

The foot-boy

An unnamed servant in the Elliot household who helps usher Mr Elliot into the drawing room.

Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple

Also known as Lady Dalrymple

A cousin of the Elliots who is staying in Bath. She renews their acquaintance after Sir Walter writes to her and receives them socially.

The Honourable Miss Carteret

Also known as Miss Carteret

Lady Dalrymple’s daughter and a cousin of the Elliots. She is described as plain and awkward and accompanies her mother in Bath.

Miss Hamilton

Also known as Mrs Smith

Anne’s former schoolmate, three years older than Anne, who once comforted her when she grieved for her mother. Now a poor, infirm widow in Bath, she tells Anne of Mr Elliot’s former friendship with her late husband and his harmful conduct; Anne and Wentworth become her lasting friends.

Mrs Smith’s husband

Also known as Mr Smith · Charles Smith

Miss Hamilton’s late husband, an intimate friend of Mr Elliot who trusted and loved him. Their joint extravagance, encouraged by Elliot, ruined the Smiths; after his death, Wentworth helps Mrs Smith recover his West Indian property.

The governess

An unnamed former governess of Anne who tells her that her old schoolmate Miss Hamilton, now Mrs Smith, is living in Bath in hardship.

Mrs Rooke

Also known as Nurse Rooke

A professional nurse and sister of Mrs Smith’s landlady. She nursed Mrs Smith during a severe illness, taught her knitting and crafts, and brings her news and observations from her nursing work.

Mrs Smith’s landlady

An unnamed woman in Bath who rents lodgings to Mrs Smith. Her sister, Mrs Rooke, is a nurse; Mrs Smith trusts the landlady not to mistreat her.

Captain Brigden

Also known as Brigden

A naval officer and acquaintance of Admiral Croft, whom the Admiral greets while walking with Anne in Bath.

Admiral Brand

Also known as Brand

A naval officer seen in Bath with his brother. Admiral Croft calls them shabby and recalls that they once took some of his best men.

Admiral Brand’s brother

An unnamed naval officer seen walking with Admiral Brand in Bath. Admiral Croft disapproves of them and recalls that they took some of his best men.

Sir Archibald Drew

Also known as old Sir Archibald Drew

An elderly acquaintance of Admiral Croft seen in Bath with his grandson. He mistakenly takes Anne for Mrs Croft.

Sir Archibald Drew’s grandson

Also known as the younker

An unnamed young man accompanying Sir Archibald Drew in Bath. Admiral Croft remarks that the peace has come too soon for his naval prospects.

The gentlemen and ladies accompanying Captain Wentworth

Also known as Captain Wentworth’s party

Unnamed Bath acquaintances who arrive with Captain Wentworth near Milsom Street. Several comment on Anne and Mr Elliot after they leave.

Miss Atkinson

A woman who dined with Mr Elliot at the Wallises and describes him as exceptionally agreeable in company.

Lady Alicia

A woman who, with Mrs Frankland, told Lady Russell about a set of drawing-room curtains in Bath.

Mrs Frankland

A woman who, with Lady Alicia, told Lady Russell about a set of drawing-room curtains in Bath.

Miss Larolles

Also known as the inimitable Miss Larolles

A woman at the concert whose situation on the bench Anne compares with her own.

The Durands

Also known as the little Durands

A family known to Mrs Smith who regularly attends concerts in Bath.

The Ibbotsons

A family known to Mrs Smith and discussed as possible attendees at the Bath concert.

The two new beauties

Two unnamed young women discussed by Mrs Smith as fashionable newcomers in Bath; one is linked by gossip to a tall Irish officer.

The tall Irish officer

An unnamed officer in Bath who is talked of as a possible match for one of the two new beauties.

Old Lady Mary Maclean

An older woman known to Mrs Smith who regularly attends concerts in Bath.

Mrs Speed

A woman whom Anne thinks may have answered the door at Mrs Smith’s lodgings; Mrs Smith clarifies that it was Mrs Rooke.

The maid at Mrs Smith’s lodgings

An unnamed servant whom Anne thinks may have answered the door at Mrs Smith’s lodgings.

The laundress

An unnamed worker whose account of the concert reaches Mrs Smith through a laundress and a waiter.

The waiter

An unnamed worker whose account of the concert reaches Mrs Smith through a laundress and a waiter.