# Henry Worthington Cowperwood — The Financier character guide > Henry Worthington Cowperwood in The Financier by Theodore Dreiser. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Henry Cowperwood, Henry, Mr. Cowperwood, old Cowperwood **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A reliable, unbrilliant bank clerk who brings his son to the brokerage floor on Saturdays, he plants the seed of a financier without ever quite understanding what grows. ## Who they are Henry Cowperwood is a trustworthy, sound-organization man, known to the Drexels and the Bank of the United States as a most reliable individual, and he rises steadily without ever being called brilliant. He is pleased by young Frank's fascination with discounts, collateral, and the British East India Company shares worth four times their face value, and he explains the machinery of money with patient pride. His quiet, respectable world is the baseline against which his son's spectacular and unscrupulous ascent—and eventual crash—will be measured. ## In the story ### [The Philadelphia into Which Frank Algernon Cowperwood Was Born](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/i) Frank's father, a bank clerk who becomes teller at Third National Bank; cautious, ambitious, and careful about social and financial appearances. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/ii) Frank's father, a reliable bank teller who educates his son about financial instruments and the workings of the banking world. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/iii) Frank's father, a bank teller, lends him money for the soap venture and supports his early business ambitions. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/iv) Frank's father, who advises him on the importance of credit and is informed of Frank's bonus and salary increase. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/vi) Henry Cowperwood, as cashier, hosts business associates at the new house and discusses streetcar investments with Alfred Semple. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as likely to become vice-president of the Third National Bank, reflecting the family's rising status. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/ix) Helps Frank with business suggestions. ### [The First Great Opportunity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xi) Frank's father, whose bank is mentioned as a potential source for taking a portion of the state loan. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xii) Prospering due to his son's success; plans to build a house next to Frank's. ### [The Plan and the New Houses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xv) Father of Frank; his house is also being built adjacent to Frank's, with shared features. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxi) Cowperwood's father is referenced as the banker at whose bank Cowperwood plans to hypothecate stock. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxii) Frank's father, initially nervous but grows bolder, using Third National Bank resources to support Frank's loans and speculations. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxiii) Present at the initial scene; worried about his own financial involvement with his son. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxix) Cowperwood's father discusses the financial situation and the danger of hypothecated city loan certificates. ### [The Double Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxx) Paces the floor in despair over Frank's financial collapse, seeing no hope. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxiv) Aged and broken by his son's disgrace, he resigns from the bank after thirty-five years of service. ### [Chapter XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xliv) Accompanies Frank to jail, is very nervous during the verdict, and helps with arrangements for Frank's confinement. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/l) Cowperwood's father is informed of the situation and helps with moving to smaller houses. ### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/li) Looks as though he has lost his last friend but tries to appear self-contained. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/lii) Frank's father, present in court, bows his head to hide tears upon hearing the sentence. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/liv) Moves to a smaller house; loses his desk at the sheriff's sale; family adjusts to reduced circumstances. ### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/lvi) Frank's father, now a broken man working a menial bank job; lives in shame and reads the Bible for consolation. ### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/lix) Aged and subdued, his social joy in life is gone; he awaits death, sustained financially but spiritually broken. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/characters/henry_cowperwood - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/characters