# John Clayton — Tarzan of the Apes character guide > John Clayton in Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Clayton, Monsieur Clayton, young Clayton **First appearance:** 0001-tarzan-of-the-apes ## Snapshot An English nobleman marooned on the African coast with his pregnant wife, he builds a cabin in the jungle and dies before ever knowing his son survived. ## Who they are Lord Greystoke arrives in Africa on a colonial posting, only to be abandoned by mutinous sailors on a hostile shore. Resourceful and dignified, he constructs a cabin from salvaged ship's timber and journals their ordeal, never suspecting that the infant he leaves behind will be raised by apes. His brief, tragic presence establishes the inheritance Tarzan unknowingly carries—a title, a name, and a fate that will eventually collide with his wild son's destiny. ## Relationships ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan) _family_ John Clayton is Tarzan's biological father, though they never meet in person; Tarzan discovers his heritage through the cabin left by his parents. ### [Lady Alice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/lady_alice) _family_ John Clayton and Lady Alice are husband and wife, marooned together in the jungle where they have Tarzan before dying. ### [Professor Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/professor_porter) _social_ John Clayton and Professor Porter are acquaintances through the expedition, with Clayton showing respect for the professor's learning. ### [Esmeralda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/esmeralda) _professional_ Esmeralda serves as a maid to the Clayton household, showing loyalty and care for John Clayton and his family. ### [Jane Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/jane_porter) _romantic_ Jane Porter and John Clayton (Tarzan) fall deeply in love, with Jane eventually choosing Tarzan over her other suitor. ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan) _family_ John Clayton is Tarzan's biological father, though they never meet in person; Tarzan discovers his heritage through the cabin left by his parents. ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan) _family_ John Clayton is Tarzan's biological father, though they never meet in person; Tarzan discovers his heritage through the cabin left by his parents. ### [Lady Alice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/lady_alice) _family_ John Clayton and Lady Alice are husband and wife, marooned together in the jungle where they have Tarzan before dying. ### [Jane Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/jane_porter) _romantic_ Jane Porter and John Clayton (Tarzan) fall deeply in love, with Jane eventually choosing Tarzan over her other suitor. ### [Esmeralda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/esmeralda) _professional_ Esmeralda serves as a maid to the Clayton household, showing loyalty and care for John Clayton and his family. ### [Professor Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/professor_porter) _social_ John Clayton and Professor Porter are acquaintances through the expedition, with Clayton showing respect for the professor's learning. ### [Professor Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/professor_porter) _social_ John Clayton and Professor Porter are acquaintances through the expedition, with Clayton showing respect for the professor's learning. ## In the story ### [Tarzan of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/tarzan-of-the-apes) Lord Greystoke, Tarzan's father, who dies shortly after the infant's birth. ### [Out to Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/i-out-to-sea) Lord Greystoke, passenger on the Fuwalda, intervenes to protect a sailor from the captain's brutality. ### [The Savage Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/ii-the-savage-home) Leads the construction of the tree shelter and tries to reassure Lady Alice about their survival. ### [III: Life and Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iii-life-and-death) Builds the cabin, cares for his wife and son, and records his despair in his diary after Lady Alice's death. ### [IV: The Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iv-the-apes) Lord Greystoke, killed by Kerchak in the cabin. ### [XI: King of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xi-king-of-the-apes) Tarzan finds his photograph and diary, though he cannot read the French script. ### [XV: The Forest God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xv-the-forest-god) Follows Tarzan through the jungle, helps pull Sabor from the window, and comforts Jane after the attack. ### [Most Remarkable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvi-most-remarkable) Comments on Tarzan's raw meat eating, contrasting Esmeralda's view of him as an angel. ### [Burials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvii-burials) Discusses the mutineers' betrayal and the lack of promised supplies. ### [XVIII: The Jungle Toll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xviii-the-jungle-toll) Leads the search for Jane; finds Esmeralda and tries to revive her. ### [XIX: The Call of the Primitive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xix-the-call-of-the-primitive) Rushes to the signal pyre and waves his shirt to attract the attention of the vessels. ### [XX: Heredity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xx-heredity) His likeness is in the locket given to Jane. ### [The Village of Torture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxi-the-village-of-torture) Part of the search party; present during the ambush and subsequent fighting. ### [XXII: The Search Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxii-the-search-party) Returns from the search expedition; expresses jealousy and suspicion toward the forest man, and later apologizes to Jane. ### [Lost Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxiv-lost-treasure) Admits fear of jungle noises and supports the decision to wait, though he doubts the forest man's background. ### [The Outpost of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxv-the-outpost-of-the-world) His diary is read, detailing his and Alice's hardships and the birth of their son. ### [The Giant Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxvii-the-giant-again) Mentioned as having gone to Wisconsin to prepare things for the Porters, and as a potential rival for Jane's affections. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxviii-conclusion) Thanks Tarzan, proposes to Jane, and is accepted; later learns Tarzan is the true Lord Greystoke but Tarzan does not reveal it. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/john_clayton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters