# Mr. Boncassen — The Duke’s Children character guide > Mr. Boncassen in The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mrs. Boncassen **First appearance:** 0027-xxviii-mrs-montacute-jones-s-garden-party ## Snapshot A self-made American of formidable intellect, whose republican plainness unsettles and fascinates the English aristocrats now courting his daughter. ## Who they are Mr. Boncassen arrives in England as a man of wealth and ideas, debating monarchy with the Duke himself and earning a respect the Duke would never extend to his daughter as a daughter-in-law. He is no social climber — his daughter's insistence that she will not force herself on a family that repudiates her reflects his own dignified independence. His presence forces the Pallisers to confront whether their objections to Isabel are about the girl or about the nation she comes from. ## Relationships ### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge) _family_ Mr. Boncassen is Isabel's father, and Silverbridge must win his approval to marry Isabel, leading to a respectful but cautious relationship. ### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge) _family_ Mr. Boncassen is Isabel's father, and Silverbridge must win his approval to marry Isabel, leading to a respectful but cautious relationship. ### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge) _family_ Mr. Boncassen is Isabel's father, and Silverbridge must win his approval to marry Isabel, leading to a respectful but cautious relationship. ## In the story ### [Mrs. Montacute Jones's Garden-Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxviii-mrs-montacute-jones-s-garden-party) Isabel's father, an American scholar engaged in literary work at the British Museum. ### [Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxii-miss-boncassen-s-river-party-no-2) Speaks with Silverbridge about the party and his daughter; described as a learned man with a presidential appearance. ### [Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxii-miss-boncassen-s-river-party-no-2) Asks Silverbridge about Dolly Longstaff's social standing; speaks with a nasal twang that Silverbridge finds unbecoming. ### [The Langham Hotel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-langham-hotel) Discusses the English climate and society with his wife and daughter at Maidenhead. ### [The Langham Hotel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-langham-hotel) Complains about the English climate and expresses a wish to return to New York. ### [Lady Mary's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvi-lady-mary-s-dream) Present at dinner, he engages Lady Mary in conversation about a Norwegian poet, inadvertently disrupting Popplecourt's courtship. ### [Miss Boncassen's Idea of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvii-miss-boncassen-s-idea-of-heaven) Discusses republicanism with the Duke; fond of Scandinavian poets. ### [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) Walks with the Duke and Isabel, though his role in the conversation is minimal; his daughter reflects on his potential presidential candidacy. ### [LIII: “Then I Am as Proud as a Queen”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/liii-then-i-am-as-proud-as-a-queen) Surprised by Silverbridge's proposal, questions the match and the Duke's knowledge. ### [Brook Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxviii-brook-street) Discreetly leaves Silverbridge alone with Isabel, showing her trust in her daughter. ### [Love May Be a Great Misfortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxx-love-may-be-a-great-misfortune) Expresses his fears about Isabel's social future as an English duchess and sets a condition that the Duke must personally vouch for her acceptance. ### [What Am I to Say, Sir?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxi-what-am-i-to-say-sir) Meets the Duke and discusses Silverbridge's proposal; expresses wisdom and concern about his daughter's reception. ### [Carlton Terrace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxii-carlton-terrace) Accompanies Isabel to Carlton Terrace; comments on the grandeur of the house and expresses hope for Isabel's happiness. ### [Let Us Drink a Glass of Wine Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxiv-let-us-drink-a-glass-of-wine-together) At ease and manly, he reads the Duke's mind and appreciates the reconciliation gesture. ### [On Deportment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxvi-on-deportment) Hosts a dinner where Tregear and Silverbridge discuss the political situation. ### [The First Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxix-the-first-wedding) Mentioned in connection with the wedding preparations and the display of marriage presents. ### [The First Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxix-the-first-wedding) Hosts the wedding guests and feels pride that her daughter will become an English Duchess. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/mr_boncassen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters