# Lord John Roxton — The Lost World character guide

> Lord John Roxton in The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lord Roxton, Lord John, Roxton, John Roxton, the Hero Lord John Roxton

**First appearance:** 0004-ii-try-your-luck-with-professor-challenger

## Snapshot

A laconic English sportsman and big-game hunter whose calm blue eyes and easy drawl conceal a man who has faced death on three continents and enjoyed it.

## Who they are

Roxton's rooms are a museum of trophies and oars, and his manner is as spare and deliberate as his aim. He joins the expedition not for science but for the sheer pull of the unknown, and his steadiness under fire becomes the group's spine when Challenger's temper and Summerlee's acid wear everyone down. His quiet competence and readiness for danger make him the man the others instinctively look to when the adventure turns lethal.

## Relationships

### [Professor Summerlee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/characters/professor_summerlee)

_friendship_

They share a cordial, supportive bond as fellow explorers, with Roxton often mediating between Summerlee and Challenger.

### [Professor Summerlee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/characters/professor_summerlee)

_friendship_

They share a cordial, supportive bond as fellow explorers, with Roxton often mediating between Summerlee and Challenger.

### [Professor Summerlee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/characters/professor_summerlee)

_friendship_

They share a cordial, supportive bond as fellow explorers, with Roxton often mediating between Summerlee and Challenger.

## In the story

### [V: Question!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/v-question)

Volunteers for the expedition, citing his experience in the Amazon, and later speaks to Malone outside the hall.

### [I Was the Flail of the Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/vi-i-was-the-flail-of-the-lord)

Malone visits Roxton's home, where Roxton shares his enthusiasm for the expedition and his love of sporting risk.

### [Tomorrow We Disappear Into the Unknown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/vii-tomorrow-we-disappear-into-the-unknown)

Neat, laconic, and quietly fierce; known as the 'Red Chief' among riverine natives for his campaign against the slave-driver Pedro Lopez; speaks Língua Geral and is a South America enthusiast.

### [VIII: The Outlying Pickets of the New World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/viii-the-outlying-pickets-of-the-new-world)

Acts as a peacemaker alongside Malone, helping to resolve disputes between the professors.

### [IX: Who Could Have Foreseen It?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/ix-who-could-have-foreseen-it)

Takes command of the crossing, insisting on military caution; shoots an ajouti for dinner and later spots the signpost left by Maple White.

### [For Once I Was the Hero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/xi-for-once-i-was-the-hero)

Supports further exploration, uses his glass to observe iguanodons and other wildlife, and participates in the debate about staying or leaving.

### [It Was Dreadful in the Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/xii-it-was-dreadful-in-the-forest)

Asleep in camp when Malone leaves; later found missing along with Challenger and Summerlee.

### [A Sight Which I Shall Never Forget](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/xiii-a-sight-which-i-shall-never-forget)

Narrates his escape from the ape-men, retrieves Malone and the guns, and plans the rescue of the professors.

### [XIV: Those Were the Real Conquests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/xiv-those-were-the-real-conquests)

Eager to settle a score with the ape-men; decides to join the Indian raid; shows interest in the blue clay pits.

### [Our Eyes Have Seen Great Wonders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/xv-our-eyes-have-seen-great-wonders)

Deciphers the map as a chart of the caves; insists on maintaining independence from the Indians.

### [XVI: A Procession! A Procession!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/chapters/xvi-a-procession-a-procession)

Hosts the final supper for the expedition members, described with his rugged, eagle face and humorous eyes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/characters/lord_john_roxton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_world_se/characters