# Tom Tusher — The History of Henry Esmond character guide > Tom Tusher in The History of Henry Esmond by William Makepeace Thackeray. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Tusher, Thomas Tusher, honest Tom Tusher, Tom, Doctor Tusher **First appearance:** 0010-vii-i-am-left-at-castlewood-an-orphan-and-find-most-kind-protectors-there ## Who they are The parson's son who grew up alongside Harry at Castlewood, now a Cambridge scholar bound for the clergy and the quiet rivalries of home. ## Relationships ### [Henry Esmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters/henry_esmond) _friendship_ Tom Tusher is Henry's childhood friend and fellow student at Cambridge, later a clergyman, with a cordial but somewhat distant relationship. ### [Henry Esmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters/henry_esmond) _friendship_ Tom Tusher is Henry's childhood friend and fellow student at Cambridge, later a clergyman, with a cordial but somewhat distant relationship. ### [Henry Esmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters/henry_esmond) _friendship_ Tom Tusher is Henry's childhood friend and fellow student at Cambridge, later a clergyman, with a cordial but somewhat distant relationship. ## In the story ### [An Account of the Family of Esmond of Castlewood Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/i-an-account-of-the-family-of-esmond-of-castlewood-hall) The Vicar of Castlewood, who comes to supper and stays late with Lord Castlewood. ### [Whither in the Time of Thomas, Third Viscount, I Had Preceded Him as Page to Isabella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iii-whither-in-the-time-of-thomas-third-viscount-i-had-preceded-him-as-page-to-isabella) Portly clergyman, 'pillar' of Castlewood church, who bows low to Lord Castlewood. ### [IV: I Am Placed Under a Popish Priest and Bred to That Religion—Viscountess Castlewood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iv-i-am-placed-under-a-popish-priest-and-bred-to-that-religion-viscountess-castlewood) The local clergyman who teaches Harry when at home, and is devoted to playing cards with Lady Castlewood. ### [My Superiors Are Engaged in Plots for the Restoration of King James II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-my-superiors-are-engaged-in-plots-for-the-restoration-of-king-james-ii) Son of the vicar, friend of Harry's, but sent away to school in London. ### [My Superiors Are Engaged in Plots for the Restoration of King James II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-my-superiors-are-engaged-in-plots-for-the-restoration-of-king-james-ii) Vicar of Castlewood; goes to pay his duty to the Prince of Orange, wearing an orange cockade. ### [I Am Left at Castlewood an Orphan, and Find Most Kind Protectors There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vii-i-am-left-at-castlewood-an-orphan-and-find-most-kind-protectors-there) The local parson who laughs at Lord Castlewood's stories and mildly protests his coarseness, but remains a compliant presence. ### [VIII: After Good Fortune Comes Evil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/viii-after-good-fortune-comes-evil) Brings news of the smallpox outbreak and later argues with Henry about the alehouse visit. ### [IX: I Have the Smallpox, and Prepare to Leave Castlewood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ix-i-have-the-smallpox-and-prepare-to-leave-castlewood) Makes courtly speeches to Lady Castlewood about her unchanged beauty, rebukes Harry. ### [X: I Go to Cambridge, and Do but Little Good There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/x-i-go-to-cambridge-and-do-but-little-good-there) A junior soph at Emanuel College; acts as Henry's protector; a Whig and friend to authority, contrasts with Henry's Jacobite leanings. ### [My Lord Mohun Comes Among Us for No Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xii-my-lord-mohun-comes-among-us-for-no-good) Mentioned as a former comrade of Harry's; Beatrix nearly caused a quarrel between them by quoting a jest, after which Tom kept his distance from her. ### [I: I Am in Prison, and Visited, but Not Consoled There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/i-i-am-in-prison-and-visited-but-not-consoled-there) Esmond writes him a sarcastic letter from prison, congratulating him on inheriting the living of Castlewood. ### [V: I Go on the Vigo Bay Expedition, Taste Saltwater and Smell Powder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-i-go-on-the-vigo-bay-expedition-taste-saltwater-and-smell-powder) Former waiting-woman's son, now a suitor to Lady Castlewood; Esmond views his presumption as an insult to the family. ### [VI: The 29th December](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vi-the-29th-december) Officiates at the service, appears in cassock and periwig, greets Henry with a Latin quotation. ### [IX: I Make the Campaign of 1704](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ix-i-make-the-campaign-of-1704) Governor to Frank Castlewood at Trinity College, Cambridge. ### [VII: I Visit Castlewood Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vii-i-visit-castlewood-once-more) Mentioned as the parson at Castlewood vicarage with his wife. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters/tom_tusher - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/characters