# Lord Popplecourt — The Duke’s Children character guide

> Lord Popplecourt in The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Popplecourt

**First appearance:** 0033-xxxiv-lord-popplecourt

## Snapshot

A dull young nobleman with coal mines in Staffordshire, pushed by society toward Lady Mary as a suitable suitor she has no wish to encourage.

## Who they are

Popplecourt is the eligible but tedious lord whom Custins and Lady Cantrip quietly promote as a match for Mary, and his conversation about salt-mines, coal royalties, and pretty things exposes how little he understands her. His clumsy courtship, egged on by Dolly Longstaff's teasing, makes him a comic obstacle to the Tregear romance. He matters because Mary's revulsion at his suit sharpens her loyalty to the man her father has forbidden.

## In the story

### [The Derby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xvii-the-derby)

Dines at the Beargarden with the party before the Derby.

### [No; My Lord, I Do Not](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xix-no-my-lord-i-do-not)

Mentioned by Silverbridge as a possible rich husband for Mabel, but she dismisses him as a fool.

### [She Must Be Made to Obey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxiv-she-must-be-made-to-obey)

Considered by the Duke as a possible husband for Lady Mary due to his rank, estate, and unembarrassed finances.

### [Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 1](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxi-miss-boncassen-s-river-party-no-1)

Mentions visiting Lady Cantrip and meeting Lady Mary Palliser; hints at interest in Mary.

### [Lord Popplecourt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxiv-lord-popplecourt)

The intended suitor for Lady Mary, invited to dinner at The Horns; described as steady but dull, with a large unencumbered estate.

### [Don’t You Think—?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxv-don-t-you-think)

Sits near Lady Mary, is subtly courted by Lady Cantrip as a potential husband for Mary, and returns to London with the Duke.

### [Crummie-Toddie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxviii-crummie-toddie)

Expected at Crummie-Toddie but delayed; described as disagreeable but a fairly good shot who understands what is expected of him.

### [Again at Killancodlem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlii-again-at-killancodlem)

At Crummie-Toddie, joins in teasing Silverbridge about his romantic interests.

### [Lady Mary's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvi-lady-mary-s-dream)

The chosen suitor, he is nervous and awkward, makes clumsy conversation about coal mines and poetry, and inadvertently offends Lady Mary by disparaging Tregear.

### [Miss Boncassen's Idea of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvii-miss-boncassen-s-idea-of-heaven)

Advises Dolly but makes little progress in his own suit with Lady Mary.

### [The Party at Custins Is Broken Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlviii-the-party-at-custins-is-broken-up)

Proposes to Lady Mary through Lady Cantrip but is rejected; leaves Custins after learning of Tregear's prior claim.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_popplecourt
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters