# Robert Brown — Just William character guide

> Robert Brown in Just William by Richmal Crompton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Robert, the anxious Robert

**First appearance:** 0000-i-william-goes-to-the-pictures

## Snapshot

William's seventeen-year-old brother, a self-important young man whose rifle, dignity, and composure are all permanently at risk from a small boy.

## Who they are

Robert inhabits the lofty world of new rifles and visiting friends, and treats William chiefly as a thing to be ordered out of rooms. His pomposity makes him a perfect target, and his fluster when things go wrong is almost as reliable as William's talent for causing them. He matters because he shows the household's pecking order — and how quickly it can be upended by an eleven-year-old with a plan.

## Relationships

### [William Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/william_brown)

_family_

Robert is William's older brother, often annoyed by William's interference in his teenage life.

### [Ethel Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/ethel_brown)

_family_

Ethel and Robert are siblings who often bicker but unite against William's troublemaking.

### [William Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/william_brown)

_family_

Robert is William's older brother, often annoyed by William's interference in his teenage life.

### [William Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/william_brown)

_family_

Robert is William's older brother, often annoyed by William's interference in his teenage life.

### [Ethel Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/ethel_brown)

_family_

Ethel and Robert are siblings who often bicker but unite against William's troublemaking.

## In the story

### [William Goes to the Pictures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/i-william-goes-to-the-pictures)

Mentioned as the anxious Robert; not directly involved in this chapter.

### [William the Intruder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/ii-william-the-intruder)

Anxious and infatuated with Miss Cannon, his romantic picnic and bicycle are ruined by William; he is left frustrated and speechless.

### [A Question of Grammar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/vi-a-question-of-grammar)

William's brother, who dismisses William from the library.

### [VIII: The Outlaws](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/viii-the-outlaws)

Criticizes his mother's decision to trust William with the baby, but refuses to take the baby himself.

### [William's New Year's Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/x-william-s-new-year-s-day)

William's elder brother, who is annoyed by William's polite behavior at breakfast.

### [Jumble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/xii-jumble)

Robert initially scoffs at Jumble but later helps teach him tricks, showing a softer side.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/robert_brown
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters