# Mr. Mildmay — Phineas Finn character guide

> Mr. Mildmay in Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mildmay, poor old Mildmay

**First appearance:** 0007-viii-the-news-about-mr-mildmay-and-sir-everard

## Snapshot

The venerable Liberal leader whose mildness and long service make him the fixed point around which younger ambitions turn.

## Who they are

Mr. Mildmay is the elder statesman at the head of the Liberal party, the man whose name gives a government its shape and whose retirement would set every ambition loose. He is spoken of with affection and a little pity, as a leader whose day is passing, and the maneuvering around his position drives much of the novel's political weather. For Phineas, he represents the establishment that must be served, admired, and eventually outgrown.

## In the story

### [The New Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se/chapters/ix-the-new-government)

Becomes Prime Minister; summoned to Windsor; forms the new government.

### [A Cabinet Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se/chapters/xxix-a-cabinet-meeting)

The Prime Minister who presides over the Cabinet meeting and announces his intention to resign.

### [Mr. Kennedy's Luck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se/chapters/xxx-mr-kennedy-s-luck)

Leads the government through the political crisis; pledges to respect the election results on the ballot issue.

### [Promotion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se/chapters/xliii-promotion)

Mentioned as having offered the Undersecretary position to Laurence Fitzgibbon and commissioning Lord Brentford to offer Phineas the junior lordship; Lord Brentford credits him with proposing Phineas's appointment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se/characters/mr_mildmay
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_finn_se/characters