# Ham Peggotty — David Copperfield character guide

> Ham Peggotty in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ham, Poor Ham, Ham Peggotty

**First appearance:** 0009-vi-i-enlarge-my-circle-of-acquaintance

## Snapshot

Mr. Peggotty's sturdy fisherman nephew, whose gentle heart and steady hands make him the quiet anchor of the Yarmouth boat-house family.

## Who they are

Ham is the adopted son in the Peggotty household, a rough-handed sailor whose devotion to his uncle and to Little Em'ly runs deep and unspoken. His love for Em'ly — patient, unassuming, and destined for grief — gives the Yarmouth strand its emotional weight. He stands for the honest laboring decency that Steerforth's careless disdain cannot see, and his fate is bound up with the family's.

## In the story

### [I Have a Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/iii-i-have-a-change)

Mr. Peggotty's nephew; a gentle young man who works as a fisherman and is kind to David.

### [My "First Half" at Salem House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/vii-my-first-half-at-salem-house)

Mr. Peggotty's nephew, who accompanies him on the visit and is impressed by Steerforth.

### [Little Em'ly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxi-little-em-ly)

Sits beside Em'ly, grins happily as Mr. Peggotty tells of his love for her, and is described as bashful and honorable.

### [A Loss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxx-a-loss)

Stands near Em'ly, speaks kindly, and agrees to leave her with her uncle for the night, showing his gentle and understanding nature.

### [A Greater Loss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxxi-a-greater-loss)

Ham is heartbroken, weeping as he tells David that Em'ly has run away with Steerforth.

### [The Beginning of a Long Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxxii-the-beginning-of-a-long-journey)

Haunted by a premonition of doom, staring out to sea with a determined yet confused expression.

### [The Wanderer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xl-the-wanderer)

Mentioned as working bravely but deeply affected by Em'ly's flight; helped draft a reply to her letter.

### [Tempest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/lv-tempest)

David is deeply concerned for his safety during the storm; he is not present in Yarmouth.

### [LXIII: A Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/lxiii-a-visitor)

Remembered through the tablet David placed in Yarmouth churchyard; Mr. Peggotty gathers grass and earth from his grave for Em'ly.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/ham_peggotty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters