# Sir William Thornhill — The Vicar of Wakefield character guide

> Sir William Thornhill in The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sir William, Sir, William

**First appearance:** 0014-xiii

## Snapshot

A baronet of stern principles and generous instincts whose devotion to public justice is matched only by his blindness to the viper he has fostered in his own family.

## Who they are

Sir William stands as the neighborhood's model of honor, a man whose reputation for virtue gives weight to every judgment he delivers. His tragedy is domestic: the nephew he has raised and indulged turns out to be the author of the very crimes Sir William most abhors. His slow, painful discovery of Thornhill's guilt — and his determination to see justice done regardless of blood — drives the novel's reckoning.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Thornhill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/mr_thornhill)

_family_

Mr. Thornhill is Sir William's unscrupulous nephew, whose actions bring shame and conflict to the family.

### [Mr. Jenkinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/mr_jenkinson)

_psychological_

Mr. Jenkinson initially schemes against Sir William but later reforms and assists him.

### [Mr. Thornhill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/mr_thornhill)

_family_

Mr. Thornhill is Sir William's unscrupulous nephew, whose actions bring shame and conflict to the family.

### [Mr. Thornhill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/mr_thornhill)

_family_

Mr. Thornhill is Sir William's unscrupulous nephew, whose actions bring shame and conflict to the family.

### [Mr. Jenkinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/mr_jenkinson)

_psychological_

Mr. Jenkinson initially schemes against Sir William but later reforms and assists him.

### [Mr. Jenkinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/mr_jenkinson)

_psychological_

Mr. Jenkinson initially schemes against Sir William but later reforms and assists him.

## In the story

### [A Migration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters/iii)

Sir William is described by Mr. Burchell as a generous but whimsical man who carried benevolence to a romantic extreme in his youth.

### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters/xx)

Receives George's recommendatory letter but rebukes him for being the instrument of his nephew's vices.

### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters/xxiii)

Mentioned as the Squire's uncle, present at the wedding celebrations and bearing a good character.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters/xxxi)

Confronts his nephew and exposes his villainy; orders the release of George Primrose.

### [The Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/chapters/xxxii)

Enters to advise Dr. Primrose on accepting George's offer, sends for marriage licenses, and marries Sophia Primrose.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters/sir_william_thornhill
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicar_of_wakefield_se/characters