# Addison Cowperwood — The Titan character guide

> Addison Cowperwood in The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Cowperwood, Addison, Mr. Addison, Mr. Addison Cowperwood

**First appearance:** 0004-v-concerning-a-wife-and-family

## Snapshot

Frank's older brother and a Chicago banker, he hears the full confession of his brother's prison term and chooses loyalty over respectable caution.

## Who they are

Addison is the weaker of the two brothers yet forceful in his own way, a man who has spent fifty years in banking and knows how many respected Chicago fortunes began in murkier waters. When Frank volunteers the story of his embezzlement conviction and divorce, Addison is moved less by pity than by the drama of a man climbing back from the mire. His decision to extend the courtesies of his bank and house gives Frank the foothold he needs in Chicago, making Addison the quiet enabler of everything that follows.

## In the story

### [A Chicago Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/iii-a-chicago-evening)

Listens to Cowperwood's confession and pledges his support, welcoming him to Chicago.

### [The New Queen of the Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/vi-the-new-queen-of-the-home)

Attends the dinner with his wife; has not yet confided the true history of Cowperwood and Aileen to her.

### [Now This Is Fighting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/viii-now-this-is-fighting)

Applauds Frank's plan and advises him to enlist crooked village councilmen and a reliable lawyer.

### [The Fruits of Daring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xi-the-fruits-of-daring)

Defends Cowperwood to Schryhart at the Calumet Club, noting his Philadelphia record.

### [A New Retainer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xii-a-new-retainer)

Provides Cowperwood with a letter of introduction to McKenty, speculating on Cowperwood's strategic move.

### [The Power of the Press](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxiii-the-power-of-the-press)

Addison advises Frank on the political leanings of various newspaper publishers, expressing skepticism about their reliability.

### [Love and War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxvi-love-and-war)

Confers with Cowperwood and McKenty about young MacDonald's request and the political situation.

### [Enter Hosmer Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxiv-enter-hosmer-hand)

President of the Lake City Bank, forced to resign after Hand and Arneel demand an end to loans to Cowperwood; later becomes president of the Chicago Trust Company.

### [An Election Draws Near](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxvi-an-election-draws-near)

Dismisses Republican candidate Sluss as a tool of the Arneel-Schryhart interests.

### [A Trip to Louisville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xl-a-trip-to-louisville)

Former president of Lake City National; now heads Chicago Trust Company, which Cowperwood uses as a central reserve bank.

### [XLIII: The Planet Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xliii-the-planet-mars)

Attempts to secure bank loans for Cowperwood's elevated railway projects but faces widespread refusal due to opposition from rival financiers.

### [American Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xlvii-american-match)

Assists Cowperwood in loaning money to local banks and is informed of Cowperwood's suspicions about Hand, Schryhart, Arneel, and Merrill.

### [LVIII: A Marauder Upon the Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lviii-a-marauder-upon-the-commonwealth)

Present at lunch with Frank, listening to his emphatic declarations about the franchise battle.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/addison_cowperwood
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters