# Sir Marmaduke Rowley — He Knew He Was Right character guide > Sir Marmaduke Rowley in He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Sir Marmaduke, Sir Rowley, Marmaduke, excellent old Sir Marmaduke **First appearance:** 0000-i-showing-how-wrath-began ## Snapshot A retired colonial governor whose dwindling fortune and four marriageable daughters make every suitor a financial negotiation he cannot afford to lose. ## Who they are Sir Marmaduke presides over a household of women in Manchester Street, his authority nominally absolute but practically besieged by daughters with opinions and suitors with insufficient incomes. His elder daughter's disastrous marriage and his second daughter's attachment to a penniless journalist force him to weigh respectability against affection. He is the weary patriarch whose decisions about whom his daughters may marry shape the novel's central romantic tensions. ## Relationships ### [Louis Trevelyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/louis_trevelyan) _family_ Sir Marmaduke is Louis's father-in-law, and their relationship is strained by Louis's obsessive behavior toward Emily. ### [Louis Trevelyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/louis_trevelyan) _family_ Sir Marmaduke is Louis's father-in-law, and their relationship is strained by Louis's obsessive behavior toward Emily. ### [Louis Trevelyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/louis_trevelyan) _family_ Sir Marmaduke is Louis's father-in-law, and their relationship is strained by Louis's obsessive behavior toward Emily. ## In the story ### [Showing How Wrath Began](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/i-showing-how-wrath-began) Mentioned as Emily's father, governor of the Mandarin Islands, who approved of the marriage. ### [Showing How the Quarrel Progressed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/v-showing-how-the-quarrel-progressed) Referenced as having been sent for from the Colonial Office; Trevelyan regrets marrying into his family. ### [The Republican Browning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lv-the-republican-browning) Mentioned indirectly as the American Minister, Jonas G. Spalding, who is uncertain how to behave toward Mr. Glascock. ### [LXI: Parker’s Hotel, Mowbray Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxi-parker-s-hotel-mowbray-street) Has just returned to England; is furious with Trevelyan and desires to physically harm him. ### [Lady Rowley Makes an Attempt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxii-lady-rowley-makes-an-attempt) Attempts to locate Trevelyan and the child by visiting Bozzle's residence in the Borough. He is frustrated by Mrs. Bozzle's evasiveness and later by Bozzle's refusal to disclose Trevelyan's address. ### [Sir Marmaduke at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxiii-sir-marmaduke-at-home) Cross and out of temper due to Colonial Office troubles and a quarrel with Mr. Outhouse; unimpressed by Hugh Stanbury's visit. ### [Sir Marmaduke at His Club](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxiv-sir-marmaduke-at-his-club) Angry and disillusioned after his visit to Mr. Outhouse, he confronts Colonel Osborne at the club but is persuaded by Osborne's defense, leaving him more miserable. ### [River's Cottage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxvii-river-s-cottage) Informed of the visit; decides to visit Trevelyan himself, though he keeps this plan from his wife and daughter. ### [Major Magruder's Committee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxviii-major-magruder-s-committee) Testifies before Major Magruder's Committee, feels humiliated and fears his career is over, but is later reassured by the Colonial Office. ### [Sir Marmaduke at Willesden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxix-sir-marmaduke-at-willesden) Visits Trevelyan at Willesden to demand answers about Emily's treatment; his indignation gives way to pity upon seeing Trevelyan's wretched state; later consults Dr. Turbury. ### [Showing What Nora Rowley Thought About Carriages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxx-showing-what-nora-rowley-thought-about-carriages) Returns home to face new domestic troubles; learns of Hugh Stanbury's proposal and Nora's rejection of Mr. Glascock; struggles with his disappointment over lost prospects. ### [Showing What Hugh Stanbury Thought About the Duty of Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxi-showing-what-hugh-stanbury-thought-about-the-duty-of-man) Writes to refuse consent to Stanbury's proposal, then visits the D.R. office to confront Stanbury, defending traditional notions of professional respectability. ### [The Rowleys Go Over the Alps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxv-the-rowleys-go-over-the-alps) Travels with the family to Florence; refuses to touch Trevelyan's money but allows his daughter to pay her share of expenses. ### [We Shall Be So Poor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxvi-we-shall-be-so-poor) Sir Marmaduke has gone to Siena with Emily Trevelyan to search for Louis Trevelyan, who has fled with their son. ### [I Can Sleep on the Boards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxix-i-can-sleep-on-the-boards) Averse to further intercourse with Trevelyan; reluctantly allows Emily to go alone. ### [Self-Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxiv-self-sacrifice) Trevelyan refuses to receive any visit from him, citing past insults. ### [The Baths of Lucca](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxv-the-baths-of-lucca) Fretful about Nora's plans; will accompany Emily when others go to Florence for the wedding. ### [Mr. Glascock as Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxvi-mr-glascock-as-nurse) Attends the wedding with some grumbling, leaving Emily alone to contemplate her future. ### [Mr. Glascock's Marriage Completed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/lxxxvii-mr-glascock-s-marriage-completed) Present at the Baths of Lucca; subjected to Mr. Spalding's political discourse. ### [Lady Rowley Conquered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xc-lady-rowley-conquered) Initially opposes Nora's engagement, influenced by Colonel Osborne's negative remarks, but gradually realizes he cannot prevent it. ### [Four O'Clock in the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xci-four-o-clock-in-the-morning) Struggles with Nora's love affair; fails to place her with the Outhouses; reluctantly gives his blessing to Hugh and Nora. ### [XCIII: “Say That You Forgive Me”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xciii-say-that-you-forgive-me) Mentioned as having sailed from England; Trevelyan accuses him of being an enemy. ### [XCIV: A Real Christian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/chapters/xciv-a-real-christian) Suggests Nora stay with Mrs. Outhouse; offers an allowance but is unable to propose a suitable residence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/he_knew_he_was_right_se/characters/sir_marmaduke_rowley - 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