# Mr. Gibson — He Knew He Was Right character guide > Mr. Gibson in He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Poor Mr. Gibson, poor Mr. Gibson, Gibson **First appearance:** 0034-xxxv-mr-gibson-s-good-fortune ## Snapshot A weak, well-meaning Exeter clergyman whose inability to say a firm no embroils him with two sisters and a formidable aunt. ## Who they are Mr. Gibson is a comfortably established clergyman in Exeter, favoured by Miss Stanbury as a possible match and pursued by the French sisters with alarming energy. He lisped his refusals, dreads confrontation, and finds himself trapped between Arabella's hopes, Camilla's fury, and the old lady's sharp tongue. His cowardice and vanity make him the pivot of the novel's comic subplot, and his mishandling of a simple engagement shows how small weaknesses can produce very large scenes. ## Relationships ### [Dorothy Stanbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/dorothy_stanbury) _romantic_ Mr. Gibson pursues Dorothy romantically, but she ultimately rejects him in favor of Brooke Burgess. ### [Camilla French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/camilla_french) _romantic_ Camilla is infatuated with Mr. Gibson and aggressively pursues him, creating a comedic and tense dynamic. ### [Emily Trevelyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/emily_trevelyan) _social_ Emily and Mr. Gibson are acquaintances; Mr. Gibson briefly considers courting Emily after her separation from Louis. ### [Hugh Stanbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/hugh_stanbury) _rivalry_ Hugh and Mr. Gibson are rivals for Dorothy's affection, though Hugh ultimately supports his sister's choice of Brooke. ### [Dorothy Stanbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/dorothy_stanbury) _romantic_ Mr. Gibson pursues Dorothy romantically, but she ultimately rejects him in favor of Brooke Burgess. ### [Dorothy Stanbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/dorothy_stanbury) _romantic_ Mr. Gibson pursues Dorothy romantically, but she ultimately rejects him in favor of Brooke Burgess. ### [Camilla French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/camilla_french) _romantic_ Camilla is infatuated with Mr. Gibson and aggressively pursues him, creating a comedic and tense dynamic. ### [Emily Trevelyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/emily_trevelyan) _social_ Emily and Mr. Gibson are acquaintances; Mr. Gibson briefly considers courting Emily after her separation from Louis. ### [Hugh Stanbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/hugh_stanbury) _rivalry_ Hugh and Mr. Gibson are rivals for Dorothy's affection, though Hugh ultimately supports his sister's choice of Brooke. ### [Hugh Stanbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/hugh_stanbury) _rivalry_ Hugh and Mr. Gibson are rivals for Dorothy's affection, though Hugh ultimately supports his sister's choice of Brooke. ### [Camilla French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/camilla_french) _romantic_ Camilla is infatuated with Mr. Gibson and aggressively pursues him, creating a comedic and tense dynamic. ### [Emily Trevelyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/emily_trevelyan) _social_ Emily and Mr. Gibson are acquaintances; Mr. Gibson briefly considers courting Emily after her separation from Louis. ## In the story ### [What They Said About It in the Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xv-what-they-said-about-it-in-the-close) Participates in the gossip, expressing timid curiosity about the scandal and sharing whispers with the Miss Frenches. ### [Mr. Brooke Burgess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xxxi-mr-brooke-burgess) Sits next to Dorothy at dinner and makes vague, uncomfortable remarks about marriage, but fails to declare himself clearly. ### [Priscilla's Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xxxiv-priscilla-s-wisdom) Expected to propose to Dorothy on Friday; he sat next to her at dinner but spoke only of church matters. ### [Mr. Gibson's Good Fortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xxxv-mr-gibson-s-good-fortune) Proposes to Dorothy under pressure from Miss Stanbury and is teased by Brooke about the Frenches. ### [Miss Stanbury's Wrath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xxxvi-miss-stanbury-s-wrath) Arrives at Miss Stanbury's house to propose to Dorothy, but is turned away by Miss Stanbury who informs him of Dorothy's refusal. ### [Miss Stanbury and Mr. Gibson Become Two](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xlii-miss-stanbury-and-mr-gibson-become-two) Mr. Gibson proposes to Dorothy again but is refused; he feels anger, wonder, and doubt, and is told by Miss Stanbury that Dorothy means her refusal. ### [Brooke Burgess Takes Leave of Exeter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xliv-brooke-burgess-takes-leave-of-exeter) Complains to Brooke about Miss Stanbury's harsh treatment and declares he will never visit her again. ### [About Fishing, and Navigation, and Headdresses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xlvii-about-fishing-and-navigation-and-headdresses) Feels ill-used by Miss Stanbury and is now spending much time at Heavitree, dreading his inevitable marriage to one of the French sisters. ### [Mr. Gibson Is Punished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xlviii-mr-gibson-is-punished) Cowardly refuses to answer Miss Stanbury's question, then privately confesses to Mrs. French that he is willing to marry Camilla. ### [Mr. Brooke Burgess After Supper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xlix-mr-brooke-burgess-after-supper) Described as a 'mean, paltry dog' by Brooke; his failed courtship of Dorothy is discussed. ### [Camilla Triumphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/l-camilla-triumphant) After being confounded by Miss Stanbury's revelation about Dorothy, he proposes to Camilla French, but delays setting a wedding date. ### [Mr. Gibson's Threat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/liv-mr-gibson-s-threat) Visits to inquire after Miss Stanbury and to reconcile; later threatened by Mrs. French and responds by threatening to emigrate to Natal. ### [Mysterious Agencies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxv-mysterious-agencies) Postpones his wedding to Camilla, visits Arabella in her illness, and expresses feeling driven by a mysterious agency. ### [Of a Quarter of Lamb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxvi-of-a-quarter-of-lamb) The intended groom of Camilla French; the marriage is delayed, and he is rumored to be sick of the bargain. ### [The Lioness Aroused](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxiv-the-lioness-aroused) Writes a letter to Camilla breaking off the engagement, expressing relief and pride in his firmness; has been meeting Arabella secretly. ### [Mrs. French’s Carving Knife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxii-mrs-french-s-carving-knife) Endures Camilla's furious confrontation, writes to Mrs. French to avoid further scenes, and expresses despair over the situation. ### [LXXXIII: Bella Victrix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxiii-bella-victrix) Escapes the consequences of his broken engagements and takes pride in his perceived success as a 'gay deceiver'; prepares to marry Bella. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/mr_gibson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters