# John Sedley — Vanity Fair character guide

> John Sedley in Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old John Sedley, Mr. Sedley, Good old John Sedley

**First appearance:** 0002-ii-in-which-miss-sharp-and-miss-sedley-prepare-to-open-the-campaign

## Who they are

A once-prosperous London merchant whose comfortable world of turtle dinners and champagne collapses into ruin, embittering the family he adored.

## In the story

### [Rebecca Is in Presence of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/iii-rebecca-is-in-presence-of-the-enemy)

The jovial father who teases Joseph and welcomes Rebecca into the family home.

### [The Green Silk Purse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/iv-the-green-silk-purse)

Warns his wife about Rebecca's designs on Joseph; dismisses Joseph's vanity.

### [Vauxhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/vi-vauxhall)

Neutral about Jos's marriage, he gives Rebecca a purse of guineas and offers to be her protector.

### [XII: Quite a Sentimental Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xii-quite-a-sentimental-chapter)

Noted as graver of late, absorbed in City affairs, and not noticing Amelia's romantic preoccupation.

### [How Captain Dobbin Bought a Piano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xvii-how-captain-dobbin-bought-a-piano)

His bankruptcy and the auction of his household goods form the backdrop of the chapter.

### [Who Played on the Piano Captain Dobbin Bought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xviii-who-played-on-the-piano-captain-dobbin-bought)

Ruined by Napoleon's return and betrayed by his old friend Osborne; he is humiliated and broken by the bankruptcy and creditor meetings.

### [In Which Captain Dobbin Acts as the Messenger of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xx-in-which-captain-dobbin-acts-as-the-messenger-of-hymen)

A ruined man, he initially refuses consent to the marriage but is amused by the story of Rebecca's elopement and softens toward Dobbin.

### [In Which Mr. Osborne Takes Down the Family Bible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxiv-in-which-mr-osborne-takes-down-the-family-bible)

Referenced as a former friend of Mr. Osborne, now dismissed as a 'swindling old bankrupt.'

### [Between London and Chatham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxvi-between-london-and-chatham)

Is cheered by Amelia's visit and her singing of his favorite songs.

### [A Family in a Very Small Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-family-in-a-very-small-way)

Fails at various business ventures after bankruptcy, frequents a club where he boasts about his son's position and his former wealth.

### [Struggles and Trials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlvi-struggles-and-trials)

Amelia's father, who engages in failed speculations and hides the family's financial troubles from the women. His debts worsen the household's situation.

### [Contains a Vulgar Incident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/l-contains-a-vulgar-incident)

Amelia's father, who reveals he sold the annuity from Joseph, worsening the family's financial plight.

### [Eothen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lvii-eothen)

Now a bankrupt old widower, dependent on his daughter and the charity of his former rival, Mr. Osborne.

### [LVIII: Our Friend the Major](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lviii-our-friend-the-major)

Frail and lost in memories of the past; Dobbin gently informs him of Joseph's return.

### [The Old Piano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lix-the-old-piano)

Aged and broken by grief and misfortune, he is deeply affected by Joseph's return and weeps over his wife's death.

### [Returns to the Genteel World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lx-returns-to-the-genteel-world)

Emerges from his refuge in the upper stories on days when Jos is absent, joining the small family party with Dobbin.

### [In Which Two Lights Are Put Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxi-in-which-two-lights-are-put-out)

Dies after a period of illness, reconciled with his daughter Amelia, and leaves a humble legacy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/john_sedley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters