# Sir Philip Nunnely — Shirley character guide

> Sir Philip Nunnely in Shirley by Charlotte Brontë.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Nunnely, Sir Philip, Philip, Philip Nunnely

**First appearance:** 0012-xiii-further-communications-on-business

## Who they are

A gentle young baronet with a poet's temperament, whose earnest courtship of Shirley tests the limits of her patience and his own.

## Relationships

### [Caroline Helstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/characters/caroline_helstone)

_social_

Sir Philip is a wealthy suitor who proposes to Caroline, but she gently rejects him as she does not love him.

### [Caroline Helstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/characters/caroline_helstone)

_social_

Sir Philip is a wealthy suitor who proposes to Caroline, but she gently rejects him as she does not love him.

### [Caroline Helstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/characters/caroline_helstone)

_social_

Sir Philip is a wealthy suitor who proposes to Caroline, but she gently rejects him as she does not love him.

## In the story

### [The First Bluestocking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/chapters/xxvii-the-first-bluestocking)

Courts Shirley with increasing frequency, taking her on excursions and showing his poetic and amiable nature.

### [Phoebe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/chapters/xxviii-phoebe)

Mentioned in passing as someone who might redden when meeting Shirley's eye, contrasted with Mr. Moore's self-control.

### [XXIX: Louis Moore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/chapters/xxix-louis-moore)

Louis observes Shirley's polite but distant behavior toward him and warns him off in his thoughts.

### [Rushedge—A Confessional](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/chapters/xxx-rushedge-a-confessional)

Mentioned as the likely husband of the heiress, described by Yorke as 'milk and water' and a writer of verses.

### [Uncle and Niece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/chapters/xxxi-uncle-and-niece)

Proposes to Shirley at Nunnely Priory but is rejected.

### [Written in the Schoolroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/chapters/xxxvi-written-in-the-schoolroom)

Mentioned as a rejected suitor; Shirley explains why she would not marry him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/characters/sir_philip_nunnely
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/shirley_se/characters