# Mr. Harding — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide

> Mr. Harding in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Mr. Harding, Septimus Harding, poor old Mr. Harding

**First appearance:** 0065-lxvi-requiescat-in-pace

## Snapshot

The gentle, elderly father of Mrs. Grantly and Mrs. Arabin, whose quiet goodness has shaped Barchester for a generation and whose passing gathers the whole county to mourn.

## Who they are

Septimus Harding has spent his long life in the cathedral close, a man so unassuming that no one called him popular until the day he was gone. His two daughters, the archdeacon's wife and the dean's, walk together behind his coffin, and even the broken bishop comes out of the palace to follow. His death in the novel's opening movement sets the tone of loss and moral reckoning against which the Crawley scandal plays out.

## In the story

### [III: The Archdeacon's Threat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/iii-the-archdeacon-s-threat)

Mentioned as the grandfather whom Griselda requested not to be invited to the rectory, causing Mrs. Grantly distress.

### [Major Grantly at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxii-major-grantly-at-home)

Visits Plumstead, dotes on Edith, and reminisces about the past with the archdeacon.

### [The Plumstead Foxes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-plumstead-foxes)

Staying at Plumstead Rectory but breakfasts in his room, remaining uninvolved in the family dispute.

### [Mr. Toogood Travels Professionally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlii-mr-toogood-travels-professionally)

Receives a visit from Mr. Toogood; writes to his daughter Mrs. Arabin about the visit and the gravity of the case.

### [Near the Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlix-near-the-close)

Living alone at the deanery, he takes his grandson's part, arguing that love and character matter more than rank or money, and gently defends Grace Crawley's upbringing.

### [The Cross-Grainedness of Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lviii-the-cross-grainedness-of-men)

Mentioned as the major's grandfather, who is not very strong and is visited by Mrs. Grantly.

### [In Memoriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxvii-in-memoriam)

Receives news of Mrs. Proudie's death while in bed with Posy; reflects on her with gentle charity despite past wounds.

### [Mr. Toogood at The Dragon of Wantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxii-mr-toogood-at-the-dragon-of-wantly)

Too ill to be seen by Toogood at the deanery; Mrs. Baxter reports he is only accessible to very old friends.

### [The Arabins Return to Barchester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxviii-the-arabins-return-to-barchester)

Bedridden at the deanery; weak in his legs and believes he will never stand again; expresses joy at the news of Mrs. Arabin's return and Mr. Crawley's innocence.

### [Barchester Cloisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxxi-barchester-cloisters)

Lying on his deathbed, he grows weaker and dies peacefully, surrounded by family.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_harding
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters