# Reginald Morton — The American Senator character guide > Reginald Morton in The American Senator by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** old Reginald Morton, Mr. Reginald **First appearance:** 0004-v-reginald-morton ## Snapshot A scholarly, proud recluse who lost Bragton to a lawsuit and now watches his cousin inherit the house he can barely bring himself to enter. ## Who they are Reginald Morton lives quietly near Dillsborough, a bookish man whose family's long legal defeat has left him estranged from Bragton and its new master. He refuses Mrs. Hopkins's invitation to step inside the house, though he cannot quite stop thinking about it, or about Mary Masters, whose company stirs feelings he thought he had put aside. His wounded pride and reluctant tenderness make him the novel's most quietly complicated figure. ## Relationships ### [Mary Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mary_masters) _romantic_ Mary and Reginald share a deep, mutual romantic attachment that eventually leads to marriage. ### [Lady Ushant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lady_ushant) _family_ Lady Ushant is Reginald's loving and supportive aunt, acting as a maternal figure. ### [Mr. Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mr_masters) _social_ Mr. Masters, a local attorney, has professional and social dealings with Reginald Morton as a landowner. ### [Lawrence Twentyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lawrence_twentyman) _rivalry_ Lawrence and Reginald are romantic rivals for Mary Masters' affection, though Lawrence eventually concedes. ### [Mr. Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mr_masters) _social_ Mr. Masters, a local attorney, has professional and social dealings with Reginald Morton as a landowner. ### [Lady Ushant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lady_ushant) _family_ Lady Ushant is Reginald's loving and supportive aunt, acting as a maternal figure. ### [Mary Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mary_masters) _romantic_ Mary and Reginald share a deep, mutual romantic attachment that eventually leads to marriage. ### [Mary Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mary_masters) _romantic_ Mary and Reginald share a deep, mutual romantic attachment that eventually leads to marriage. ### [Lady Ushant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lady_ushant) _family_ Lady Ushant is Reginald's loving and supportive aunt, acting as a maternal figure. ### [Lawrence Twentyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lawrence_twentyman) _rivalry_ Lawrence and Reginald are romantic rivals for Mary Masters' affection, though Lawrence eventually concedes. ### [Lawrence Twentyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/lawrence_twentyman) _rivalry_ Lawrence and Reginald are romantic rivals for Mary Masters' affection, though Lawrence eventually concedes. ### [Mr. Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/mr_masters) _social_ Mr. Masters, a local attorney, has professional and social dealings with Reginald Morton as a landowner. ## In the story ### [I: Dillsborough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/i-dillsborough) Present occupier of Hoppet Hall; his full introduction is postponed. ### [The Morton Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/ii-the-morton-family) The younger son of old Reginald Morton; married a woman of low birth, causing family strife; died before the old squire. ### [Reginald Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/v-reginald-morton) The protagonist of the chapter, a solitary and learned man who has returned to Hoppet Hall. He is disgusted by Lawrence Twentyman's courtship of Mary Masters and maintains a friendship with her family. ### [Not in Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/vi-not-in-love) Filled with irrational anger and self-disgust after his encounter with Mary and Twentyman; resolves to avoid Mary but is unable to control his feelings. ### [The Walk Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/vii-the-walk-home) Abruptly leaves Mary at the bridge after Larry Twentyman appears; later meets Larry on the road but avoids conversation. ### [The Paragon's Party at Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/viii-the-paragon-s-party-at-bragton) John's cousin, living at Hoppet Hall; Mrs. Morton refuses to meet him, but John wishes to invite him. ### [XV: A Fit Companion—For Me and My Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xv-a-fit-companion-for-me-and-my-sisters) Delivers Lady Ushant's invitation to Mary, but becomes offended when she defends her friendship with Lawrence Twentyman. Later visits Bragton and meets Senator Gotobed. ### [The Attorney's Family Is Disturbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xviii-the-attorney-s-family-is-disturbed) Agrees to accompany Mary on her journey to Cheltenham, adjusting his schedule to the 18th of December. ### [Wonderful Bird!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxvii-wonderful-bird) Accompanies Mary to Cheltenham; admits he was a 'bear' after the bridge incident; expresses relief that Mary is not engaged to Twentyman. ### [At Cheltenham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxx-at-cheltenham) Visits Cheltenham briefly, expresses strong disapproval of Twentyman as a match for Mary, and reveals his earlier anger at the bridge was due to concern about her engagement. ### [XXXII: “It Is a Long Way”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxxii-it-is-a-long-way) Receives a visit from his cousin John Morton at Hoppet Hall, their first meeting since childhood. ### [Mr. Mainwaring's Little Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlii-mr-mainwaring-s-little-dinner) Attempts to steer the conversation toward wine but fails to ease the tension. ### [Persecution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xliii-persecution) Lady Ushant asks him to investigate Mary's situation and report back; suspected by Lady Ushant of being the reason Mary refuses Larry. ### [It Cannot Be Arranged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlvi-it-cannot-be-arranged) Receives his aunt's letter, understands the situation with Mary and Twentyman, and admires Mary's character deeply. He visits the Masters' house to propose Mary's return to Cheltenham but is rebuffed by Mrs. Masters. ### [But There Is Some One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlvii-but-there-is-some-one) Supports Mary's visit to Cheltenham, discusses her situation with Mr. Masters, and probes about a possible other suitor. ### [Providence Interferes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lii-providence-interferes) Reginald was planning to accompany Mary to Cheltenham. He receives a longer letter from Lady Ushant about John Morton's health and the possibility that he might inherit Bragton. ### [Lady Ushant at Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/liii-lady-ushant-at-bragton) Present at Bragton; greets Mary kindly but with a protective, distant manner; likely to inherit Bragton. ### [Mrs. Morton Returns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lvii-mrs-morton-returns) Visits Bragton daily; leaves just before Mrs. Morton's arrival, walking with Mary Masters. ### [The Two Old Ladies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lviii-the-two-old-ladies) Speaks with Mary about the possibility of inheriting Bragton and his sense of duty. ### [LIX: The Last Effort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lix-the-last-effort) Referenced in Mary's thoughts as the man she truly loves but cannot have, now out of her reach. ### [Changes at Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxiii-changes-at-bragton) Reginald is barred from visiting Bragton by Mrs. Morton. He dismisses concerns about the inheritance, calling such thoughts 'dirtiness.' ### [The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxiv-the-will) Reginald is the presumed heir who stays away from Bragton, contemplates his future as squire, and ultimately inherits the estate. ### [At Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxx-at-last) Inherits Bragton but stays at Hoppet Hall; restores Mr. Masters's position; questions Mary about her secret. ### [My Own, Own Husband](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxi-my-own-own-husband) Proposes to Mary in a heartfelt scene, leading her through a private vow exchange. ### [LXXII: “Bid Him Be a Man”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxii-bid-him-be-a-man) Has made a formal offer to Mary; seen walking with her at Bragton. ### [Is It Tanti?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxiii-is-it-tanti) Engaged to Mary, he preaches a sermon on the doctrine of 'tanti' and decides to take up hunting to fit in with local society, despite his initial reluctance. ### [The Last Days of Mary Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxix-the-last-days-of-mary-masters) Remains at Hoppet Hall until the wedding; supports Mary's wish to invite Larry. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxx-conclusion) Marries Mary Masters and lives contentedly at Bragton, reminiscing about their early days. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/reginald_morton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters