# John Manly — Black Beauty character guide > John Manly in Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. **Role:** major **Also known as:** John, Manly, Mr. Manly **First appearance:** 0003-part-i-iv-birtwick-park ## Snapshot The head coachman at Birtwick Park, whose patience, firmness, and common sense cure vicious horses and steady young grooms alike. ## Who they are John Manly runs the Birtwick stables with a quiet authority that horses and boys both respect, holding the reins rather than the whip. His famous 'Birtwick balls' — patience, gentleness, firmness, and petting mixed with common sense — are his prescription for nearly any troubled animal, and Ginger's slow transformation proves him right. He is the moral center of Beauty's early life, the standard against which later grooms and masters are measured. ## Relationships ### [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/james_howard) _professional_ James is a young groom working under John Manly, the head coachman, who mentors him with fatherly care. ### [Joe Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/joe_green) _professional_ Joe Green is a young stable boy learning from the experienced coachman John Manly, who guides him with patience. ### [Sir Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/sir_oliver) _professional_ John Manly is the coachman responsible for caring for Sir Oliver, an elderly horse on the estate. ### [Sir Clifford Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/sir_clifford_williams) _professional_ John Manly serves as coachman for Sir Clifford Williams, the master of the estate. ### [Thomas Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/thomas_green) _professional_ John Manly works alongside Thomas Green, another groom on the estate, as colleagues. ### [Merrylegs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/merrylegs) _professional_ John Manly cares for Merrylegs, the pony, as part of his duties as head coachman. ### [Black Beauty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/black_beauty) _professional_ Black Beauty is the horse under John Manly's care, who treats him with great gentleness and skill. ### [Miss Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/miss_ellen) _professional_ John Manly serves as coachman for Miss Ellen, a member of the household he works for. ### [Mr. York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_york) _professional_ John Manly and Mr. York are both coachmen, with John recommending Mr. York to a new position. ### [Sir Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/sir_oliver) _professional_ John Manly is the coachman responsible for caring for Sir Oliver, an elderly horse on the estate. ### [Black Beauty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/black_beauty) _professional_ Black Beauty is the horse under John Manly's care, who treats him with great gentleness and skill. ### [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/james_howard) _professional_ James is a young groom working under John Manly, the head coachman, who mentors him with fatherly care. ## In the story ### [I: My Early Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-i-my-early-home) Not present in this chapter. ### [My Breaking In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-iii-my-breaking-in) Not directly present in this chapter. ### [Birtwick Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-iv-birtwick-park) Mentioned as the best groom who has been at Birtwick for fourteen years and does all he can to please the horses. ### [A Fair Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-v-a-fair-start) The coachman who grooms and rides Black Beauty, praising his temperament. ### [Liberty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-vi-liberty) The kind groom who understands Black Beauty's high spirits and exercises him patiently. ### [Ginger's Story Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-viii-ginger-s-story-continued) Advises kindness toward Ginger and jokes about 'Birtwick horseballs' as a cure for viciousness. ### [A Stormy Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xii-a-stormy-day) Accompanies his master on the journey, quickly assesses danger, and praises Black Beauty's wisdom. ### [The Devil's Trade Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-the-devil-s-trade-mark) Observes the abuse, refuses to help the boy, reports the incident to Farmer Bushby, and later discusses the moral lesson with James. ### [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-james-howard) Gives a strong character reference for James. ### [John Manly’s Talk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-john-manly-s-talk) John shares his life story about overcoming hardship through kindness and argues against selfishness, while preparing Joe Green to take over James's duties. ### [Going for the Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-going-for-the-doctor) Rides Beauty to the doctor and nurses him through his illness. ### [XIX: Only Ignorance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xix-only-ignorance) Cares for Black Beauty, struggles with anger toward Joe Green but agrees to forgive him. ### [Joe Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xx-joe-green) Praises Joe for intervening against cruelty, stating it is everyone's business to stop oppression. ### [The Parting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xxi-the-parting) Decides to become a colt-breaker and horse-trainer; deeply affected by the mistress's departure. ### [Earlshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii-earlshall) Delivers the horses to Earlshall Park, gives Mr. York a thorough account of their temperaments, and bids them a sad farewell. ### [XXVIII: A Job Horse and His Drivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxviii-a-job-horse-and-his-drivers) Mentioned as a good driver who would have noticed the stone immediately. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/john_manly - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters