# Sir Percival Glyde — The Woman in White character guide > Sir Percival Glyde in The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Percival, Sir Percival, Glyde **First appearance:** 0008-iv ## Snapshot A baronet with a scarred hand, a dry cough, and a secret he would kill to protect — Laura Fairlie's suitor and, eventually, her husband. ## Who they are Sir Percival Glyde presents himself as a respectable country gentleman and an old friend of the Fairlie family, but his brusque temper, his financial desperation, and his obsessive need to control his wife's fortune betray a man with something to hide. He is careless of others' feelings, quick to profanity, and unnervingly eager to isolate Laura at Blackwater Park. The scar on his hand and the anonymous warning letter about his past are the first cracks in a façade that the novel will spend hundreds of pages dismantling. ## Relationships ### [Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/count_fosco) _psychological_ Fosco manipulates and controls Glyde, acting as his cunning and domineering co-conspirator in the plot against Laura. ### [Laura Fairlie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/laura_fairlie) _rivalry_ Laura is trapped in a miserable, abusive marriage to Sir Percival, who marries her for her money and treats her cruelly. ### [Marian Halcombe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/marian_halcombe) _rivalry_ Marian is Sir Percival's determined adversary, constantly suspicious of his motives and actively working to protect Laura from him. ### [Mrs. Catherick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/mrs_catherick) _rivalry_ Mrs. Catherick harbors a bitter, vengeful hatred for Sir Percival, who seduced and abandoned her and ruined her reputation. ### [Anne Catherick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/anne_catherick) _rivalry_ Anne is Sir Percival's terrified enemy, knowing his dark secret and being persecuted by him to keep her silent. ### [Mr. Merriman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/mr_merriman) _professional_ Mr. Merriman is Sir Percival's loyal and discreet solicitor, handling his legal and financial affairs. ### [Madame Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/madame_fosco) _social_ Madame Fosco is a compliant associate of Sir Percival, assisting her husband in his plots against him. ### [Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/count_fosco) _psychological_ Fosco manipulates and controls Glyde, acting as his cunning and domineering co-conspirator in the plot against Laura. ### [Mrs. Catherick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/mrs_catherick) _rivalry_ Mrs. Catherick harbors a bitter, vengeful hatred for Sir Percival, who seduced and abandoned her and ruined her reputation. ### [Marian Halcombe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/marian_halcombe) _rivalry_ Marian is Sir Percival's determined adversary, constantly suspicious of his motives and actively working to protect Laura from him. ### [Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/count_fosco) _psychological_ Fosco manipulates and controls Glyde, acting as his cunning and domineering co-conspirator in the plot against Laura. ### [Laura Fairlie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/laura_fairlie) _rivalry_ Laura is trapped in a miserable, abusive marriage to Sir Percival, who marries her for her money and treats her cruelly. ## In the story ### [The Summerhouse Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/x) Revealed as Laura's fiancé and a baronet from Hampshire, linking to Anne Catherick. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/xi) Subject of the anonymous letter; described accurately in it; wishes to marry Laura before the end of the year. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/xiii) Named as the subject of Anne's anonymous letter; Anne's violent reaction to his name confirms he was the one who imprisoned her in the asylum. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/xiv) Mentioned as the likely person who confined Anne in an asylum; his impending visit causes Anne's flight. ### [The Story Continued by Vincent Gilmore of Chancery Lane, Solicitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-vincent-gilmore-of-chancery-lane-solicitor) Sir Percival is the intended husband, whose financial demands shape the contentious marriage settlement. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) Arrives and gives a detailed explanation about Anne Catherick and the anonymous letter, offering to prove his story by having Miss Halcombe write to Mrs. Catherick. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the fiancé who gallantly grants Laura's request for delay, but is suspected by Gilmore of being kept in the dark. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iii) Accepted as Laura's husband; his lawyer negotiates the marriage settlement, and he suspects someone is hiding Anne Catherick. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv) The intended husband, whose demands for control of Laura's fortune are the subject of Gilmore's objections. ### [The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe, in Extracts from Her Diary 1](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-marian-halcombe-in-extracts-from-her-diary) Laura's husband; his behavior becomes more controlling and erratic, contributing to Laura's distress. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) Bridegroom who successfully presses for an early wedding; appears anxious about Laura's intentions but ultimately gets his way. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii) The groom; his letters about house alterations and wedding tour plans are mentioned, and he marries Laura on the 22nd. ### [The Second Epoch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-second-epoch) Plots with Count Fosco against Laura; his secret is central to the conspiracy. ### [The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-marian-halcombe) Laura's husband; his behavior becomes more erratic and menacing, and he is often in the company of Count Fosco. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) Laura's husband; mentioned in letters and by the housekeeper; his relationship with Mrs. Catherick is questioned. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii) Thinner, more restless, and irritable; displays a mania for order and is discomposed by news of a mysterious visitor. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iii) Irritable and defensive; discusses financial arrangements with Mr. Merriman; reacts angrily to news of Mrs. Catherick's visit; apologizes to Marian for his rudeness. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv) Demands Laura sign the document, becomes angry when she refuses, and makes a cruel allusion to their marriage. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/v) Referenced as Laura's cruel husband who discovered her secret about Walter Hartright. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vi) His secret is feared by Anne Catherick; he alters plans regarding the deed signature and goes for a walk with Fosco. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vii) Confronted by Madame Fosco; intercepts Anne's letter and forces Laura to confess her secret meeting. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/viii) Absent from the house during much of the chapter; has gone on foot to make inquiries about Anne Catherick, which temporarily eases Marian's fears for Laura. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ix) Expresses anger and suspicion about Laura's secret and her love for Hartright; describes Anne Catherick as a sickly likeness of his wife. ### [Marian's Diary: The Fever and Fosco's Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/x) Mentioned as part of the conspiracy that Marian overheard. ### [The Story Continued by Frederick Fairlie, Esq., of Limmeridge House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-frederick-fairlie-esq-of-limmeridge-house) Laura's husband; Fairlie fears he might follow Laura to Limmeridge House in resentment. ### [The Story Continued by Eliza Michelson, Housekeeper at Blackwater Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-eliza-michelson-housekeeper-at-blackwater-park) Sir Percival, who conspires with Count Fosco to have Laura declared insane and imprisoned. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) Appears confused and unsettled; shows rudeness to Mrs. Michelson; involved in a dispute with Mr. Dawson. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii) Nervous and flustered, drinks heavily; insists Laura follow his plan; displays uncharacteristic rudeness and avoids looking at Laura. ### [IV: The Narrative of the Tombstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv-the-narrative-of-the-tombstone) Mentioned as the husband of the deceased on the tombstone. ### [The Third Epoch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-third-epoch) His secret is exposed and he dies in a fire. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iii) One of the conspirators; gains financially from the crime and is a threat to Walter's group. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv) Identified as one of the conspirators; reported to have returned to London; his financial troubles are noted. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/v) The target of Walter's investigation; his family history is recounted, and he appears to have sent a man in black to watch Walter at Blackwater Park. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vii) Implied to have a secret involving Mrs. Catherick; his guilty distrust of Anne is noted as a key motive. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as the target of Walter's investigation and as having committed wickedness. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ix) Central figure of the secret; Walter deduces his crime is associated with the vestry and that he has placed a spy near Mrs. Catherick. ### [The Discovery of the Forgery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/x) Revealed as an impostor who forged his claim to the baronetcy and estate. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/xi) Deceased; the inquest investigates his death, the fire, and the missing keys. ### [The Story Continued by Mrs. Catherick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-mrs-catherick) Referred to as the 'highly born gentleman' and 'nameless gentleman' involved in the secret, now deceased. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) Deceased; his death is ruled accidental at the inquest; his estate is heavily encumbered and he died without a will. ### [The Story Continued by Isidor, Ottavio, Baldassare Fosco; Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Brazen Crown, Perpetual Arch-Master of the Rosicrucian Masons of Mesopotamia; Attached (In Honorary Capacities) to Societies Musical, Societies Medical, Societies Philosophical, and Societies General Benevolent, Throughout Europe; etc. etc. etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-isidor-ottavio-baldassare-fosco-count-of-the-holy-roman-empire-knight-grand-cross-of-the-order-of-the-brazen-crown-perpetual-arch-master-of-the-rosicrucian-masons-of-mesopotamia-attached-in-honorary-capacities-to-societies-musical-societies-medical-societies-philosophical-and-societies-general-benevolent-throughout-europe-etc-etc-etc) Fosco's co-conspirator; his secret is to be preserved by the identity swap; he pays for his 'obstinacy and violence.' ### [The Count's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-count-s-narrative) Fosco's co-conspirator; his secret and obstinacy are mentioned. ### [The Story Concluded by Walter Hartright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-concluded-by-walter-hartright) His secret is exposed and he dies in a fire. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) His death is announced; his letter of the 25th is used as evidence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/sir_percival_glyde - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters