# Lord Marshmoreton — A Damsel in Distress character guide > Lord Marshmoreton in A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Marshmoreton, old Marshmoreton **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot The absent-minded Earl of Marshmoreton, happiest among his roses and his family history, who would rather avoid his relatives than manage them. ## Who they are Lord Marshmoreton is a widower of forty-eight who would gladly trade the peerage for a quiet afternoon of gardening and a few pages of his interminable family chronicle. His sister Caroline runs the household and his son Percy lectures him about propriety, leaving him peevish and evasive. His distracted authority over Belpher matters because every scheme to control Maud ultimately runs through him, whether he likes it or not. ## Relationships ### [George Bevan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/george_bevan) _social_ George interacts with Lord Marshmoreton as a guest and later as a suitor to his daughter, with a mix of deference and tension. ### [Billie Dore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/billie_dore) _romantic_ Billie Dore develops a romantic interest in Lord Marshmoreton, leading to a comedic subplot. ### [Keggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/keggs) _professional_ Keggs is the butler serving Lord Marshmoreton, with a formal and respectful dynamic. ### [Percy Wilbraham Marsh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/percy_wilbraham_marsh) _family_ Lord Marshmoreton is Percy's father, and their relationship involves paternal disappointment and generational conflict. ### [Reggie Byng](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/reggie_byng) _social_ Lord Marshmoreton and Reggie Byng interact as acquaintances, with Reggie often seeking his approval or avoiding his wrath. ### [Reggie Byng](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/reggie_byng) _social_ Lord Marshmoreton and Reggie Byng interact as acquaintances, with Reggie often seeking his approval or avoiding his wrath. ### [George Bevan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/george_bevan) _social_ George interacts with Lord Marshmoreton as a guest and later as a suitor to his daughter, with a mix of deference and tension. ### [George Bevan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/george_bevan) _social_ George interacts with Lord Marshmoreton as a guest and later as a suitor to his daughter, with a mix of deference and tension. ### [Keggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/keggs) _professional_ Keggs is the butler serving Lord Marshmoreton, with a formal and respectful dynamic. ### [Billie Dore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/billie_dore) _romantic_ Billie Dore develops a romantic interest in Lord Marshmoreton, leading to a comedic subplot. ### [Billie Dore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/billie_dore) _romantic_ Billie Dore develops a romantic interest in Lord Marshmoreton, leading to a comedic subplot. ### [Percy Wilbraham Marsh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/percy_wilbraham_marsh) _family_ Lord Marshmoreton is Percy's father, and their relationship involves paternal disappointment and generational conflict. ## In the story ### [A Damsel in Distress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/a-damsel-in-distress) Maud's father, embodying the authority and tradition that Maud must rebel against. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/i) Gardening and preoccupied with green flies; resists Lady Caroline's pressure to speak to Maud about marrying Reggie. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/v) Identified in Burke's Peerage as the Earl of Marshmoreton, father of Percy and Maud, with family seat at Belpher Castle. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/vi) Attempts to joke about the incident but is silenced by Lady Caroline. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/vii) Described by the house-agent as pigheaded and unpopular over a right-of-way dispute. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/ix) Sits in a council with Percy and Lady Caroline, regretting he mentioned the note; later trapped by Alice Faraday into reviewing notes. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xii) Retires to bed early, mistakenly reading a sentimental novel instead of a gardening book. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xvi) Visits George's cottage to confront him about Maud and to ask for Billie Dore's address, but ends up having a friendly conversation. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xvii) Cheerful and energetic, he works in his rose-garden singing songs from the 1880s. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xix) Mentioned as the other person who mistakenly confirmed to George that Maud loved him. ### [Reggie's Wedding Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xx) Mentioned as having gone to London the previous day, which facilitated Alice's escape. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xxi) Seen entering the Regent Grillroom with a pretty blonde woman, causing alarm to Reggie and Alice. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xxii) Referenced as the one who visited London a week prior and to whom Keggs will report the invitation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/lord_marshmoreton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters