# Mr. Turnbull — The Napoleon of Notting Hill character guide

> Mr. Turnbull in The Napoleon of Notting Hill by G. K. Chesterton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Turnbull, General Turnbull, the Remarkable Mr. Turnbull

**First appearance:** 0012-ii-the-remarkable-mr-turnbull

## Snapshot

A sceptical, honourable veteran who doubts the Notting Hill cause but fights and dies in it with a youth he thought he had lost.

## Who they are

Turnbull enters the story as a voice of hard-headed doubt, unwilling to be swept up in Wayne's romantic fervour. Yet when the final battle comes, he stands with Notting Hill and charges into the spears of Shepherd's Bush, remarking that he has had his youth. His late conversion gives the war its tragic dignity, showing what Wayne's sincerity can win from a cynic.

## Relationships

### [Adam Wayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters/adam_wayne)

_rivalry_

Adam Wayne and Mr. Turnbull are opponents in the war, with Turnbull being one of the military leaders opposing Wayne's forces.

### [Auberon Quin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters/auberon_quin)

_professional_

Auberon Quin and Mr. Turnbull have a formal professional relationship as King and a military officer.

### [Adam Wayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters/adam_wayne)

_rivalry_

Adam Wayne and Mr. Turnbull are opponents in the war, with Turnbull being one of the military leaders opposing Wayne's forces.

### [Adam Wayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters/adam_wayne)

_rivalry_

Adam Wayne and Mr. Turnbull are opponents in the war, with Turnbull being one of the military leaders opposing Wayne's forces.

### [Auberon Quin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters/auberon_quin)

_professional_

Auberon Quin and Mr. Turnbull have a formal professional relationship as King and a military officer.

## In the story

### [Book III: The Mental Condition of Adam Wayne and The Remarkable Mr. Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/book-iii)

The remarkable chemist who Wayne recruits, responding with enthusiasm to being called a 'world-old necromancer'.

### [The Remarkable Mr. Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/ii-the-remarkable-mr-turnbull)

Toyshop keeper who becomes Wayne's military commander; initially appears as a mild-mannered shopman but reveals a strategic mind and a love of absurd humor.

### [Book IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/book-iv)

Ruling Pump Street in Wayne's absence; organized the commandeering of cabs and horses for the sortie.

### [III: The Great Army of South Kensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/iii-the-great-army-of-south-kensington)

Mentioned as General Turnbull of Notting Hill, who expelled Wilson's forces from Pump Street.

### [Book V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/book-v)

Commands the right flank, charges against Barker's men and carries the Red Lion banner.

### [I: The Empire of Notting Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/i-the-empire-of-notting-hill)

General Turnbull listens to Wayne's prediction of defeat and expresses surprise, but agrees they will likely be beaten.

### [II: The Last Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/chapters/ii-the-last-battle)

Commands the Notting Hill right, breaks Barker's men, then charges into the spears of Shepherd's Bush and dies.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters/mr_turnbull
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_napoleon_of_notting_hill_se/characters