# Lord Beckenham — A Bid for Fortune character guide > Lord Beckenham in A Bid for Fortune by Guy Boothby. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Wetherell, Marquis of Beckenham, Beckenham, Wetherell, The Marquis, Marquis, Presently Beckenham, the Marquis of Beckenham, Bidding Beckenham, Both Mr. Wetherell, The Marquis of Beckenham, the real Lord Beckenham, III Lord Beckenham **First appearance:** 0001-part-i-i-i-determine-to-take-a-holiday-sydney-and-what-befell-me-there ## Snapshot A warm-hearted young nobleman whose solitary ramble through Sydney's botanical gardens draws a stranger to his side and a scheme around his name. ## Who they are He is delighted to find Hatteras aboard, eager to see everything, and utterly unprepared for the quiet men who study him from a distance. His long conversation with the shrewd, grey-haired stranger overlooking the harbour shows a mind that romanticizes ships, emigrants, and far-off fjords — exactly the openness a predator would cultivate. When his identity is later used as a weapon, the reader understands that his innocence was the point all along. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _friendship_ Lord Beckenham is a supportive ally and friend to the narrator, often aiding in his endeavors. ### [Prendergast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/prendergast) _friendship_ Lord Beckenham and Prendergast are allies who cooperate to oppose Sir William Hatteras. ### [Sir William Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/sir_william_hatteras) _rivalry_ Lord Beckenham and Sir William Hatteras are social and political rivals. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _friendship_ Lord Beckenham is a supportive ally and friend to the narrator, often aiding in his endeavors. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _friendship_ Lord Beckenham is a supportive ally and friend to the narrator, often aiding in his endeavors. ### [Prendergast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/prendergast) _friendship_ Lord Beckenham and Prendergast are allies who cooperate to oppose Sir William Hatteras. ### [Sir William Hatteras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/sir_william_hatteras) _rivalry_ Lord Beckenham and Sir William Hatteras are social and political rivals. ## In the story ### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/prologue) Referenced as the young Marquis of Beckenham, whose tutor is Baxter; not directly appearing. ### [IV: I Save an Important Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-iv-i-save-an-important-life) The young bather rescued by Hatteras; identified as the Marquis of Beckenham, grateful and aristocratic. ### [V: Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-v-mystery) The young Marquis, eager to hear about Australia and grateful for Hatteras's friendship. ### [I Meet Dr. Nikola Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-vi-i-meet-dr-nikola-again) Young marquis who writes to Hatteras about his travel plans to Australia and New Zealand. ### [VII: Port Said, and What Befell Us There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-vii-port-said-and-what-befell-us-there) Young marquis traveling with Baxter; suffers severe seasickness for days, recovers at Port Said, and shows naive generosity by giving half a sovereign to a beggar. ### [Our Imprisonment and Attempt at Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-viii-our-imprisonment-and-attempt-at-escape) The Marquis of Beckenham is also imprisoned and chained, showing patience and pluck throughout the ordeal. ### [Dr. Nikola Permits Us a Free Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-ix-dr-nikola-permits-us-a-free-passage) Accompanies Hatteras in searching for the house and is present during the confrontation with Dr. Nikola. ### [I: We Reach Australia, and the Result](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-i-we-reach-australia-and-the-result) Beckenham is haunted by Nikola during the voyage and later is revealed to be an impostor; the real Beckenham is missing. ### [II: On the Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-on-the-trail) Referred to as Mr. Wetherell; distraught over his daughter's disappearance, cooperates with Hatteras and the police. ### [Lord Beckenham's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-lord-beckenham-s-story) Narrates his abduction and mesmerism by Dr. Nikola. ### [Following Up a Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-following-up-a-clue) Beckenham is present at Potts Point and participates in the preparations for the yacht voyage. ### [V: The Islands and What We Found There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-v-the-islands-and-what-we-found-there) Referred to as Mr. Wetherell; he tells the story of his past encounter with Dr. Nikola and China Pete. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-conclusion) Present during the voyage home; the false marquis is mentioned in Phyllis's story. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/lord_beckenham - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters