# Sir George Penwether — The American Senator character guide

> Sir George Penwether in The American Senator by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir George, Penwether

**First appearance:** 0020-xxi-the-first-evening-at-rufford-hall

## Snapshot

A sensible baronet and Lady Penwether's husband, he moves through Rufford Hall's social currents with the quiet authority of a man who has seen it all before.

## Who they are

Sir George belongs to the comfortable English gentry whose country houses serve as stages for the marriage games of others. Married to the determined Lady Penwether, he is part of the family circle watching Arabella Trefoil's maneuvers with wary, well-bred amusement. His steady presence anchors the social world in which John Morton must decide whether to claim or release the woman he half-loves.

## In the story

### [Lord Rufford Makes Up His Mind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlv-lord-rufford-makes-up-his-mind)

Lord Rufford's brother-in-law, who advises him and agrees to draft a reply to Arabella's letters.

### [The Dinner at the Bush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlviii-the-dinner-at-the-bush)

Advises Lord Rufford on the letter to Arabella and insists on its final wording.

### [Now What Have You Got to Say?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lvi-now-what-have-you-got-to-say)

Advises Lord Rufford to concede to the interview, though he does not attend himself.

### [Benedict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxiv-benedict)

Disagrees with his wife's push for Lord Rufford to marry Miss Penge, but remains passive.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/sir_george_penwether
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters