# Lord Flumm — Passages from the Life of a Philosopher character guide

> Lord Flumm in Passages from the Life of a Philosopher by Charles Babbage.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lord Flumm, Lady Flumm Lord Flumm Two

**First appearance:** 0040-xxii-scene-from-a-new-afterpiece-called-politics-and-poetry-or-the-decline-of-science

## Snapshot

A genial Tory peer in Babbage's satirical play, courting the fashionable author Turnstile with dinners and introductions.

## Who they are

Lord Flumm moves through drawing-rooms and clubland, collecting interesting people and pressing invitations on the celebrated Turnstile. His easy hospitality—Tuesday dinners, friends eager to meet a literary lion—exposes the social machinery that pulls a public man away from his parliamentary duties. Through him Babbage stages the comic collision between fashionable London and the conscientious obligations of the House, a tension the philosopher clearly relished.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Turnstile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_turnstile)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional interaction, likely as employer and trusted agent or secretary.

### [Charles Babbage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/charles_babbage)

_professional_

Charles Babbage and Lord Flumm have a professional relationship, possibly as inventor and patron or government liaison.

### [MacLeech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/macleech)

_rivalry_

Lord Flumm and MacLeech are frequent antagonists, likely competing for influence or power.

### [Dick Trim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/dick_trim)

_professional_

Dick Trim and Lord Flumm have a professional relationship, possibly as servant or employee to the nobleman.

### [Smooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/smooth)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Smooth interact professionally, with Smooth likely serving as a clerk or assistant to Flumm.

### [Mrs. Tripes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mrs_tripes)

_social_

Lord Flumm and Mrs. Tripes have a social acquaintance, likely through their spouses' professional circles.

### [Lady Flumm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/lady_flumm)

_family_

Lady Flumm and Lord Flumm are married, forming a central family unit in the social hierarchy.

### [Mr. Turnstile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_turnstile)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional interaction, likely as employer and trusted agent or secretary.

### [Charles Babbage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/charles_babbage)

_professional_

Charles Babbage and Lord Flumm have a professional relationship, possibly as inventor and patron or government liaison.

### [Mr. Turnstile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_turnstile)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Mr. Turnstile have a frequent professional interaction, likely as employer and trusted agent or secretary.

### [Charles Babbage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/charles_babbage)

_professional_

Charles Babbage and Lord Flumm have a professional relationship, possibly as inventor and patron or government liaison.

## In the story

### [Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/chapters/act-i)

A Tory lord who flatters Turnstile and invites him to dinner, hoping to use him for political advantage.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/lord_flumm
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters