# Mr. Bensington — The Food of the Gods character guide > Mr. Bensington in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Bensington, Mister Bensington **First appearance:** 0001-i-the-discovery-of-the-food ## Snapshot A cautious, bespectacled scientist whose quiet experiments with a growth formula make him the reluctant public face of a world-altering discovery. ## Who they are Bensington is the mild, methodical researcher whose study becomes the birthplace of the Food of the Gods, and he spends much of the story wishing it had stayed there. He dreads publicity, squirms under the nickname 'Boomfood,' and would rather investigate quietly than defend his creation before a suspicious public. His anxious hedging against Redwood's and Cossar's boldness makes him the human measure of the discovery's runaway consequences. ## Relationships ### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/jane) _social_ Jane is acquainted with Mr. Bensington, a fellow scientist and collaborator of her husband. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _professional_ Mr. Bensington is a fellow scientist and co-discoverer of the Food of the Gods, collaborating with Redwood. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _professional_ Mr. Bensington is a fellow scientist and co-discoverer of the Food of the Gods, collaborating with Redwood. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _professional_ Mr. Bensington is a fellow scientist and co-discoverer of the Food of the Gods, collaborating with Redwood. ## In the story ### [Book I: The Dawn of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/book-i-the-dawn-of-the-food) Co-discoverer of the Food; conceives the idea and oversees early experiments. ### [The Discovery of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-discovery-of-the-food) A short, bald, stooping chemist with gold-rimmed spectacles and cut-open cloth boots; conceives the idea of the Food and names it Herakleophorbia. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Introduced as a short, bald, stooping Fellow of the Royal Society and former president of the Chemical Society, known for his research on the More Toxic Alkaloids. ### [The Food of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Co-discoverer of the Food; initially enthusiastic but quickly adopts a more reserved scientific demeanor, though he privately considers its commercial potential. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Conceives the idea of the Food of the Gods after reading Redwood's paper. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Lies awake after discussing the Food with Redwood, then dreams of the earth swelling and bursting boundaries. ### [The Experimental Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-experimental-farm) Selects the farm, hires the Skinners, and is thrilled by the giant chicks. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Conceives the idea of the Food of the Gods, selects the experimental farm, and hires the Skinners. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Visits the Experimental Farm, observes the giant chicks, and decides to take a specimen. ### [The Giant Chick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Observes the giant chick and begins to realize the possible consequences of the Food. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Kept from revisiting the farm by a severe imaginary catarrh; unaware of the wasp outbreak. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Present during Skinner's report, asks about the hens but is largely passive. ### [Mrs. Skinner's Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Referenced as having brought the tins of Herakleophorbia IV on his last visit. ### [III: The Giant Rats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii-the-giant-rats) Injured during the expedition; later despondent about the spread of bigness and public inaction. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Maintains a detached, theoretical view of the Herakleophorbia experiments, despite the growing chaos. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Follows Cossar's orders, though distracted by thoughts of his cousin Jane; goes to get money and sulfur. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Accompanies Cossar in the dogcart, reflecting on the nature of will and the obvious course of action. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Sits alone on watch, reflecting on the death of Skinner and the unforeseen dangers of his discovery. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Participates in the expedition, observing the events with astonishment and wishing his cousin Jane could see him. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii) Works alongside Cossar, experiences exhilaration and fatigue, and reflects on the significance of their actions. ### [IV: The Giant Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-the-giant-children) Returns to London to find himself famous and conflicted about the consequences of his discovery. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Returns to London to find himself famous; struggles with the moral weight of his discovery and the public's frivolous reaction. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Bensington is troubled by the public uproar and Winkles's manipulations, but remains passive. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Discusses the Royal Commission with Redwood; expresses dislike for the term 'Boomfood' and concern about the agitation. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Anxious about the consequences of the Food, especially regarding the royal princess, and considers Caterham's warnings. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Bensington visits the nursery, expressing awe and a hint of fear about the future size of the giant children. ### [The Minimificence of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-minimificence-of-mr-bensington) Disguised as an old woman to escape a lynch mob, then retires to Tunbridge Wells where he becomes a local curiosity. ### [Chapter II: The Flight of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) The original discoverer of Herakleophorbia IV, forced to flee a lynch mob and escape in disguise, never to interfere with the Food again. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Retires to Tunbridge Wells, becomes a local figure, and focuses on his health treatments, indifferent to the ongoing conflicts. ### [I: The Coming of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-coming-of-the-food) Mentioned as the originator of the Food in his study, though not present in the chapter's events. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the originator of the Food, whose study was the starting point of the theme. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii) Held responsible by parish councillors for the injury to the parish. ### [IV: Redwood’s Two Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-redwood-s-two-days) Bensington is recalled in Redwood's memories of the early days of the Food. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Recalled in Redwood's memories of the early days of the Food and his cousin Jane. ### [The Gathering of the Giants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Appears in Redwood's memory as a contrast to the present grandeur, recalling the early days of the Food. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/mr_bensington - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters