Character	Description
Anne Elliot	At 27 Anne has lost the bloom of youth but is still pretty, "with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character." Read More
Captain Frederick Wentworth	Captain Frederick Wentworth, a naval officer, is Anne Elliot's former fiancé. Read More
Sir Walter Elliot	Titled landowner and owner of Kellynch Hall, Sir Walter Elliot is a widower and father of Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Read More
Elizabeth Elliot	Elizabeth Elliot is Sir Walter Elliot's oldest and prettiest daughter; she is Anne Elliot's and Mary Elliot Musgrove's sister. Read More
Lady Russell	Independent and strong, Lady Russell is the late Lady Elliot's financially secure friend and Anne Elliot's godmother. Read More
Mary Elliot Musgrove	The youngest daughter of Sir Walter Elliot and Lady Elliot, Mary Elliot Musgrove is married to Charles Musgrove and has two young sons. Read More
William Elliot	The heir to Kellynch Hall because Sir Walter has no living sons, William Elliot, a widower, has a considerable amount of money and a shady past. Read More
Miss Atkinson	Miss Atkinson is a mutual friend of the Wallises and Captain Wentworth, who thinks William Elliot is "agreeable."
Admiral Baldwin	Aged decades beyond his years, 40-year-old Admiral Baldwin serves as Sir Walter's example of what a sailor's life can do to someone's physical looks.
Captain Benwick	An acquaintance of Captain Wentworth, Captain James Benwick, a naval officer, takes refuge in poetry while he stays with the Harvilles mourning his deceased fiancé. However, he is soon engaged to Louisa Musgrove, causing some surprise to those who thought him partial to Anne Elliot.
Admiral Brand	An enemy of Admiral Croft, Admiral Brand stole his "best men."
Admiral Brand's brother	While walking with Anne, Admiral Croft points out Admiral Brand's "shabby" brother, whom he dislikes.
Captain Brigden	Captain Brigden is Admiral Croft's friend.
Miss Carteret	Miss Carteret is Lady Dalrymple's boring and unaccomplished daughter whose title attracts her cousins Sir Walter and Elizabeth Elliot.
Mrs. Clay	Wily and conniving, Mrs. Penelope Clay is Mr. Shepherd's widowed daughter, whose unhappy marriage has left her with two children. She has moved back with her father and later accompanies Elizabeth Elliot to Bath, having ingratiated herself by flattery and usefulness.
Admiral Croft	A Somersetshire native, Admiral Croft is the rich, amiable husband of Mrs. Croft; he and his wife rent Kellynch Hall from Sir Walter Elliot.
Mrs. Croft	Respectable and bright, Mrs. Sophia Croft is Captain Wentworth's sister and Admiral Croft's wife, who has accompanied her husband on numerous sea voyages.
Lady Dalrymple	Dowager (widowed) Viscountess Dalrymple is Miss Carteret's boring and unaccomplished mother and Sir Walter Elliot's cousin, who stays at Laura Place while the Elliot family is in Bath. Impressed by her title Sir Walter tries to ingratiate himself and Elizabeth with her, seeking her aristocratic social connections.
Sir Archibald Drew	Sir Archibald Drew is old and friendly and mistakes Anne Elliot for Admiral Croft's wife.
Sir Archibald Drew's grandson	Sir Archibald Drew's grandson accompanies his grandfather on walks.
The little Durands	Mrs. Smith asks if the little Durands, music lovers, attend the benefit concert.
Lady Elliot	The deceased wife of Sir Walter Elliot, Lady Elliot is Anne, Mary, and Elizabeth Elliot's mother, known for many of the good qualities, such as rationality and good nature, that Anne has inherited.
Anne Elliot's former governess	While Anne Elliot is in Bath, her former governess suggests she visit Mrs. Smith.
Captain Harville	The kindhearted and friendly Captain Harville is Captain Wentworth's injured friend, who stays in Lyme for the winter; his late sister was Captain Benwick's fiancé.
Mrs. Harville	Mrs. Harville, a warm-hearted and hospitable nurse and mother of three, is Captain Harville's wife, whom Captain Wentworth escorts along with her cousin, sister, and children to her husband at sea.
Fanny Harville	The deceased fiancé of Captain Benwick, Fanny Harville was Captain Harville's sister.
The Harville children	The little Harvilles stay with the Musgroves at Uppercross while the Captain and Mrs. Harville nurse Louisa Musgrove in Lyme.
The Harvilles' maid	The Harvilles' maid helps with meals.
Mrs. Harville's nursery maid	A long-time companion, Mrs. Harville's nursery maid helps with Louisa.
The Miss Hayters	Charles Hayter's sisters are infatuated with Captain Wentworth.
Mr. Hayter	Mr. Hayter owns property in Winthrop, near the Musgroves, though the Hayters are considered the Musgroves' poorer relations.
Mrs. Hayter	A mother and Mr. Hayter's wife, Mrs. Hayter is Mrs. Musgrove's sister whom the Musgroves treat well and equally, despite the difference in their social standing.
Charles Hayter	The oldest of the Hayter cousins, good-mannered and bookish Charles Hayter is a curate, in love with his cousin Henrietta Musgrove, to whom he eventually becomes engaged.
The Ibbotsons	Mrs. Smith asks if the Ibbotsons, a group that includes two pretty women, will attend the concert.
Jemima	Jemima is Charles and Mary Elliot Musgrove's trustworthy nursery maid.
The laundress	The laundress shares general gossip with Mrs. Smith.
Lady Mary Maclean	A woman of "grandeur," Lady Mary Maclean attends all concerts in Bath.
Sir Basil Morley	Sir Basil Morley is Sir Walter Elliot's friend.
Mr. Musgrove	Warm and sociable, Mr. Musgrove is Mrs. Musgrove's husband, Mary Elliot Musgrove's father-in-law, and the father of Charles, Henrietta, and Louisa Musgrove.
Mrs. Musgrove	Mrs. Musgrove is Mr. Musgrove's affectionate and outgoing wife and mother of Charles, Henrietta, and Louisa Musgrove.
Charles Musgrove	Father of two young sons, the amiable and easy-going Charles Musgrove is Mary Elliot Musgrove's husband and the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove.
Charles Musgrove Jr.	The elder son of Charles and Mary Elliot Musgrove, he injures his collarbone and thus gives Anne an opportunity to care for him and thereby avoid meeting Captain Wentworth.
Henrietta Musgrove	Henrietta Musgrove is the sociable and fun-loving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove and Charles Musgrove's sister; she has some romantic interest in Captain Wentworth but remains true to her earlier love interest, Charles Hayter, to whom she becomes engaged.
Louisa Musgrove	The strong-minded yet somewhat shallow daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove, Louisa Musgrove—Henrietta's younger sister—shows interest in Captain Wentworth; then following her concussion she becomes engaged to Captain Benwick.
Richard Musgrove	Richard "Dick" Musgrove is Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove's troubled, deceased son. His parents are reminded of him when Captain Wentworth, who was Dick's superior in the navy, arrives at Kellynch Hall.
Walter Musgrove	An energetic toddler, Walter Musgrove is the younger son of Charles and Mary Elliot Musgrove, whom Captain Wentworth wrangles from Anne's neck.
Mr. Robinson	Mr. Robinson is the apothecary who treats Charles Musgrove Jr.
Nurse Rooke	The smart sister of Mrs. Smith's landlady, Nurse Rooke teaches Mrs. Smith how to knit for a living.
Sarah	Sarah is the Musgroves' old nursery maid.
Mr. Shepherd	Mr. Shepherd, a cautious lawyer, is Sir Walter Elliot's adviser and Mrs. Clay's father.
Dr. Shirley	Rigid and fussy, Dr. Shirley is an old rector suffering from health problems and whose parish Charles Hayter hopes to take over.
Mrs. Shirley	Mrs. Shirley is Dr. Shirley's wife, who likes Lyme.
Mr. Smith	Mr. Charles Smith is Mrs. Smith's deceased husband, who was ruined by William Elliot.
Mrs. Smith	Formerly Miss Hamilton and Anne's childhood classmate, resilient Mrs. Smith is a poor, ill widow, who exposes William Elliot's wicked past.
Mrs. Smith's landlady	The landlady introduces Nurse Rooke, her sister, to Mrs. Smith.
The Spicers	Acquaintances of Charles Hayter, the Spicers are a prominent family who support Charles's career.
Lord St. Ives	Lord St. Ives is the son of a curate.
Colonel Wallis	A close friend of William Elliot, distinguished and logical Colonel Wallis resides in the Marlborough Buildings and is married to Mrs. Wallis.
Mrs. Wallis	An extravagant gossip, Mrs. Wallis is Colonel Wallis's attractive wife, whom Nurse Rooke cares for after childbirth.
Edward Wentworth	Edward Wentworth is Captain Wentworth and Mrs. Croft's brother, whom Anne confuses with Frederick when she hears his name and with whom Frederick stays while Louisa Musgrove recovers.

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Persuasion | Characters