The Diary · Character

Mr. Hewer

Pepys's clerk and later trusted friend, living under the same roof and quietly absorbing the habits of a master who notices everything.

supporting

Also known as Hewer, W. Hewer, William Hewer

First appearance: january 1659 60

As a supporting figure in The Diary, Mr. Hewer is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Pepys's clerk, who stays with him at the Navy Office.

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Hewer belongs to Pepys's household at the Navy Office, listed alongside wife, maid, and boy as part of the settled family of the diary's opening year. He is the subordinate who becomes indispensable, the kind of presence whose reliability lets Pepys travel, scheme, and confide. His slow promotion from clerk to intimate mirrors the diary's larger pattern: the office is a household, and the household is a career, with loyalty the currency that buys both.

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Character Web

22 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Naval and Court Officials
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the news of the impending naval battle throws the Board into…

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In the story

Mr. Hewer appears across 40 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

July 1660
Pepys's clerk, who stays with him at the Navy Office.
August 1660
Accompanies Pepys to the Privy Seal Office and is sent home early.
September 1660
Sent home by Pepys to inform his wife; attends Common Prayer for the first time.
January 1660–61
Member of Pepys' household; mentioned as part of his family.
April 1661
Clerk; directed by Pepys to prepare for the Portsmouth trip, travels with his wife.
May 1663
Clerk Hater; confesses to Pepys about being caught at a religious meeting and fears losing his position.
October 1663
Mentioned as Will, Pepys's servant, who is drooping and causing concern.
March 1663–64
Mentioned as a clerk; Pepys secures a raise for him in this period (implied by context).
August 1664
T. Hater, the clerk who receives the raise; Pepys tells him the good news.
October 1664
Goes with Pepys's wife to see the new ship launch.
January 1664–65
Mentioned in the context of Pepys's office work.
June 1665
Stays with Pepys for dinner and helps draw up a petition for Mr. Hater's troublesome powder business.
August 1665
Brings Pepys £119 for office disbursements and shows him a letter about the dispute between Elizabeth and Mercer.
September 1665
Accompanies Pepys to Nonsuch; is in mourning for his father who died of the plague.
October 1665
Dines with Pepys and Mr. Hater on the 19th, assists with accounts and letters.
December 1665
Hewer assists Pepys in office work and is present during discussions about pursers' trade.
October 1666
Reports to Mrs. Pepys that Mercer is unwilling to return as maid.
November 1666
W. Hewer accompanies Pepys to write over a letter fair, and is present at home with Mercer.
January 1666–67
Mentioned as part of Pepys's office staff, though not directly active in this chapter.
February 1666–67
Mentioned as Pepys's clerk; Pepys gives him money for his journey.
April 1667
Mentioned as part of Pepys's household, though not directly active in this chapter.
May 1667
Pepys' clerk; accompanies Pepys' wife to the Park.
June 1667
Clerk to Pepys; helps withdraw money from the banker's amid the financial panic.
August 1667
Accompanies Pepys to the office and later hosts him at his lodging in Barnet.
September 1667
Mentioned as part of Pepys's circle; not directly active in excerpts.
December 1667
Dines with Pepys and helps review office letters for advantageous matters.
January 1667–68
Dines with Mrs. Pierce, accompanies Pepys to Kate Joyce's, and discusses naval matters.
March 1667–68
Discusses House business with Pepys and reports town gossip about Navy Officers being turned out.
April 1668
A day's journey with Pepys's wife; Pepys dines with other clerks in his absence.
May 1668
Dines with Pepys on the 10th.
July 1668
Assists Pepys with accounts and accompanies the family to Cooper's and other outings.
September 1668
Writes to Pepys about Roger Pepys's hospitality at Sturbridge-Fair.
October 1668
Assists Pepys with papers and accompanies the family to the playhouse.
November 1668
Hewer loses a tally of £1,000 but later recovers it; he assists Pepys with accounts.
December 1668
Hewer accompanies Pepys on several occasions and reports news about the French King's naval intentions.
January 1668–69
Pepys's clerk; helps with Tangier papers and accompanies him to Whitehall.
February 1668–69
Accompanies Pepys to Whitehall and other errands.
March 1668–69
Accompanies Pepys to the Rolls and St. James's Park, takes notes in shorthand.
April 1669
Assists Pepys with Navy history and dines with him at the Cocke.
May 1669
Assists Pepys with examining and stating his accounts.

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