# William Brown — Just William character guide > William Brown in Just William by Richmal Crompton. **Role:** major **Also known as:** William, Master William, Mister William, Willy, Billy **First appearance:** 0000-i-william-goes-to-the-pictures ## Snapshot An eleven-year-old pirate-king and robber-chief in a schoolboy's body, whose magnificent schemes detonate with glorious regularity against the ordinary world. ## Who they are William leads the Outlaws through a countryside of imagined ambushes, but his real genius is for catastrophe — hothouse flowers heaped on a teacher's desk, a bow and arrow that finds every window but its target. He loves fiercely and briefly, whether Miss Drew or a dancing field-mouse, and pursues each passion with no half-measures. His family braces for the fallout; readers get the pleasure of watching his logic, which is impeccable and entirely wrong, collide with grown-up life. ## Relationships ### [Ethel Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/ethel_brown) _family_ Ethel is William's older sister, often exasperated by his mischief but with an underlying sibling bond. ### [Mrs. Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/mrs_brown) _family_ Mrs. Brown is William's mother, loving but frequently frustrated by his chaotic adventures. ### [Mr. French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/mr_french) _rivalry_ Mr. French is a neighbor and frequent antagonist who clashes with William over property and peace. ### [Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/father) _family_ William's father is a stern but caring figure who often disciplines him for his escapades. ### [Jumble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/jumble) _friendship_ Jumble is William's loyal and scruffy dog, his constant companion in adventures. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is a nurturing presence who tries to keep William out of trouble with gentle scolding. ### [Robert Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/robert_brown) _family_ Robert is William's older brother, often annoyed by William's interference in his teenage life. ### [Mr. Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/mr_brown) _family_ Mr. Brown is William's father, a long-suffering parent who frequently deals with William's mishaps. ### [Emily](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/emily) _social_ Emily is the family maid who often bears the brunt of William's messes and schemes. ### [Mr. Moss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/mr_moss) _rivalry_ Mr. Moss is a local shopkeeper who is frequently outwitted or troubled by William's antics. ### [Ginger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/ginger) _friendship_ Ginger is one of William's best friends and a fellow member of the Outlaws, sharing in all adventures. ### [Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/henry) _friendship_ Henry is another close friend and Outlaw, loyal to William's schemes and mischief. ## In the story ### [William Goes to the Pictures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/i-william-goes-to-the-pictures) Receives a shilling, buys sweets, goes to the pictures, delivers a fabricated message to Mr. Morgan, and experiments with paint removal. ### [William the Intruder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/ii-william-the-intruder) Blackens his face, wears feathers and a doormat as 'Red Hand,' learns to ride Robert's bicycle, crashes the picnic, and later intrudes on Robert's courtship of Miss Cannon. ### [III: William Below Stairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/iii-william-below-stairs) Feeling misunderstood and rebellious, William runs away and poses as the new Boots in a grand house. ### [IV: The Fall of the Idol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/iv-the-fall-of-the-idol) Develops a romantic infatuation with Miss Drew, steals flowers to impress her, and struggles with schoolwork. ### [The Show](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/v-the-show) Organizes and stars in the show as showman, wearing a red dressing-gown and tinsel crown. ### [A Question of Grammar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/vi-a-question-of-grammar) The protagonist who orchestrates a party and siege after a grammar lesson. ### [William Joins the Band of Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/vii-william-joins-the-band-of-hope) Forced to attend the Band of Hope meeting, he endures Mrs. de Vere Carter's patronizing behavior with silent fury. ### [VIII: The Outlaws](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/viii-the-outlaws) Forced to take the baby out, he instead kidnaps it to the Outlaws' barn, then struggles with the consequences. ### [William and White Satin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/ix-william-and-white-satin) Forced to be a page in white satin, he feels humiliated and rebels against the costume. ### [William's New Year's Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/x-william-s-new-year-s-day) Takes a New Year's resolution to be polite, minds Mr. Moss's shop, and gets into a fight with a loutish boy. ### [The Best Laid Plans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/xi-the-best-laid-plans) Manipulates Mr. French for white rats and money, causes chaos with the rats in church and at home. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/i) Feigns illness to manipulate Mr. French into carrying him, then bargains for white rats in exchange for helping Mr. French court Ethel. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/ii) Attempts to train rats, extorts Mr. French, and causes a church scandal. ### [Jumble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/chapters/xii-jumble) William adopts Jumble and struggles with the responsibility of keeping him, ultimately winning the dog's permanent ownership. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters/william_brown - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/just_william_se/characters