# Captain Fagan — The Luck of Barry Lyndon character guide

> Captain Fagan in The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Fagan, Mr. Fagan

**First appearance:** 0005-iv-in-which-barry-takes-a-near-view-of-military-glory

## Snapshot

Irish officer who recognises Barry in his degrading recruit's posture, takes him under his wing, and delivers the news that ends his first romance.

## Who they are

Fagan is the friendly face that makes army life bearable for a humiliated Barry, exchanging into his company and quietly writing to his mother on his behalf. He is the one who tells Barry that Nora has married Quin, that the duel was a sham, and that the Bradys chose the mortgage over the boy. Blunt, good-humoured, and unsentimental, he embodies the practical Irish world Barry leaves behind and keeps half-longing for.

## Relationships

### [Captain Quin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/captain_quin)

_professional_

Captain Fagan and Captain Quin are fellow officers in the British army, with Fagan acting as Quin's superior.

### [Nora Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/nora_brady)

_social_

Captain Fagan is an acquaintance of Nora Brady, involved in the social circle around the Brady family.

### [Captain Quin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/captain_quin)

_professional_

Captain Fagan and Captain Quin are fellow officers in the British army, with Fagan acting as Quin's superior.

### [Nora Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/nora_brady)

_social_

Captain Fagan is an acquaintance of Nora Brady, involved in the social circle around the Brady family.

### [Captain Quin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/captain_quin)

_professional_

Captain Fagan and Captain Quin are fellow officers in the British army, with Fagan acting as Quin's superior.

### [Nora Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/nora_brady)

_social_

Captain Fagan is an acquaintance of Nora Brady, involved in the social circle around the Brady family.

## In the story

### [II: I Show Myself to Be a Man of Spirit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/chapters/ii-i-show-myself-to-be-a-man-of-spirit)

Accompanies Barry home, advises him about Nora's character, and arranges the duel with Quin's second.

### [IV: In Which Barry Takes a Near View of Military Glory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/chapters/iv-in-which-barry-takes-a-near-view-of-military-glory)

Arrives as the new captain of Barry's regiment, reveals the truth about the duel and Nora's marriage, provides Barry with money and news, and is killed at the Battle of Minden.

### [Barry Far from Military Glory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/chapters/v-barry-far-from-military-glory)

Deceased protector of Barry; his death leaves Barry without a patron in the regiment.

### [VI: The Crimp Wagon—Military Episodes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/chapters/vi-the-crimp-wagon-military-episodes)

Mentioned as the officer Barry previously served under in the English army, but not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters/captain_fagan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/characters