# Sir John Killigrew — The Sea Hawk character guide

> Sir John Killigrew in The Sea Hawk by Rafael Sabatini.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir John, John Killigrew, Arwenack, Killigrew

**First appearance:** 0003-i-the-huckster

## Snapshot

A Cornish knight of Arwenack, bound by old ties to the Tressilian family, whose loyalties are tested when scandal and violence divide the household he once served.

## Who they are

Sir John Killigrew moves through Cornish society as a man of standing whose friendship with the Tressilians gives him a stake in their fortunes. When suspicion and betrayal tear the family apart, his instinct to uphold order collides with his personal affections, forcing him to weigh reputation against justice. His presence in the early chapters anchors the local world Oliver leaves behind, and his later willingness to speak for the wronged gives the story one of its few reliable voices of conscience.

## Relationships

### [Sir Oliver Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_oliver_tressilian)

_rivalry_

Sir John is Oliver's bitter enemy, having betrayed him and stolen his inheritance and reputation.

### [Master Lionel Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/master_lionel_tressilian)

_rivalry_

Lionel and Sir John are rivals for Rosamund's affection and for control of the Tressilian estate.

### [Lord Henry Goade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/lord_henry_goade)

_professional_

Lord Henry Goade is a judge and authority figure who investigates Sir John's crimes, acting as his adversary in court.

### [Sir Oliver Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_oliver_tressilian)

_rivalry_

Sir John is Oliver's bitter enemy, having betrayed him and stolen his inheritance and reputation.

### [Sir Oliver Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_oliver_tressilian)

_rivalry_

Sir John is Oliver's bitter enemy, having betrayed him and stolen his inheritance and reputation.

### [Master Lionel Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/master_lionel_tressilian)

_rivalry_

Lionel and Sir John are rivals for Rosamund's affection and for control of the Tressilian estate.

### [Master Lionel Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/master_lionel_tressilian)

_rivalry_

Lionel and Sir John are rivals for Rosamund's affection and for control of the Tressilian estate.

### [Lord Henry Goade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/lord_henry_goade)

_professional_

Lord Henry Goade is a judge and authority figure who investigates Sir John's crimes, acting as his adversary in court.

### [Lord Henry Goade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/lord_henry_goade)

_professional_

Lord Henry Goade is a judge and authority figure who investigates Sir John's crimes, acting as his adversary in court.

## In the story

### [The Sea Hawk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/the-sea-hawk)

A rival and enemy of Sir Oliver.

### [The Huckster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/i-the-huckster)

Implied as the instigator of Peter Godolphin's hostility, due to a land dispute with Sir Oliver over the development at Smithick.

### [II: Rosamund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/ii-rosamund)

Target of Oliver's anger for spreading slanderous rumors; Oliver goes to confront him at Arwenack.

### [III: The Forge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/iii-the-forge)

Recovers from his wound; reflects on his own unworthiness and admits he got what he deserved; visits Rosamund to remonstrate against her betrothal, citing Oliver's bad blood and turbulent nature.

### [The Buckler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/v-the-buckler)

Supports Rosamund's accusation against Sir Oliver and threatens to accuse him before the Justices.

### [VII: Trepanned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/vii-trepanned)

Sir John is visited by Lionel after the disappearance; he expresses sympathy and suggests Oliver may have fled to avoid arrest.

### [IV: The Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/iv-the-raid)

Bound and captured by the corsairs during the raid. He had been a staunch supporter of Lionel's suit for Rosamund.

### [XXI: Moriturus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxi-moriturus)

His ship is expected to attack; his arrival is signaled at the chapter's end.

### [XXII: The Surrender](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxii-the-surrender)

Accepts Sakr-el-Bahr's surrender terms, demanding both Rosamund and Oliver Tressilian.

### [XXIII: The Heathen Creed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxiii-the-heathen-creed)

Mentioned as the one to whom Sir Oliver will appeal for Leigh's life, bound by the terms of surrender.

### [The Judges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxiv-the-judges)

Furious at Rosamund's defense of Oliver, he resolves to hang him and dismisses her as mad.

### [The Advocate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxv-the-advocate)

Prosecutor who angrily disputes Rosamund's claims and seeks to discredit her.

### [XXVI: The Judgement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxvi-the-judgement)

Holds Lionel as he dies, asks Oliver's forgiveness, and offers friendship.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_john_killigrew
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters