# Rawdon Crawley — Vanity Fair character guide > Rawdon Crawley in Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Rawdon Crawley, Captain Rawdon, Colonel Crawley, the Colonel **First appearance:** 0015-xv-in-which-rebecca-s-husband-appears-for-a-short-time ## Snapshot A brave but none-too-bright dragoon and heir-apparent to a rich aunt, Rawdon Crawley is a man of action easily led by stronger wills. ## Who they are Rawdon is the Life Guards captain whose prospects rest on his wealthy aunt Miss Crawley's favor, and whose contempt for his pious brother Pitt is matched only by his fondness for gambling and horses. Brave in the field but helpless in matters of money and intrigue, he becomes entangled with Becky Sharp, whose cleverness both captivates and manages him. His slow discovery of how little he understands his own marriage drives one of the novel's sharpest studies of honor and betrayal. ## In the story ### [Crawley of Queen’s Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/vii-crawley-of-queen-s-crawley) Mentioned as Sir Pitt's younger son, named after the Prince of Wales's friend. ### [Private and Confidential](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/viii-private-and-confidential) Not directly present but implied as part of the Crawley family; the letter mentions 'Mr. Crawley' (likely Pitt) but not Rawdon. ### [IX: Family Portraits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/ix-family-portraits) Sir Pitt's younger son, a soldier whose debts have been paid by Miss Crawley, and who bullied his brother Pitt at Eton. ### [X: Miss Sharp Begins to Make Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/x-miss-sharp-begins-to-make-friends) Rawdon, the younger son and a dragoon, is favored by his wealthy aunt Miss Crawley and rarely visits Queen's Crawley except when she does. ### [XI: Arcadian Simplicity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xi-arcadian-simplicity) Captain Rawdon Crawley, a gambler and profligate, pursues Rebecca and is favored by Miss Crawley for his 'delightfully wicked' character. ### [Miss Crawley at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xiv-miss-crawley-at-home) The guardsman is infatuated with Becky, but she repeatedly humiliates him; he also befriends George Osborne and warns Becky about his father's intentions. ### [XV: In Which Rebecca's Husband Appears for a Short Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xv-in-which-rebecca-s-husband-appears-for-a-short-time) Revealed as Rebecca's secret husband; receives her letter through a coded correspondence. ### [Chapter XVI: The Letter on the Pincushion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xvi-the-letter-on-the-pincushion) Marries Rebecca and arranges lodgings at Brompton, acting with impetuous love. ### [How Captain Dobbin Bought a Piano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xvii-how-captain-dobbin-bought-a-piano) Accompanies Becky to the auction; is denied entry to Miss Crawley's house; enjoys a happy domestic life with Becky, unaware of her true opinion of his intellect. ### [Miss Crawley at Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xix-miss-crawley-at-nurse) Is the target of Mrs. Bute's slander; his past misdeeds are catalogued to discredit him with his aunt. ### [A Marriage and Part of a Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxii-a-marriage-and-part-of-a-honeymoon) Married to Becky; enjoys life despite debts, plays cards and billiards with Jos and George. ### [In Which All the Principal Personages Think Fit to Leave Brighton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxv-in-which-all-the-principal-personages-think-fit-to-leave-brighton) Writes a letter to Miss Crawley under Becky's dictation, expressing hope for reconciliation. ### [Between London and Chatham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxvi-between-london-and-chatham) Mentioned as having won money from George at billiards and cards. ### [Brussels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxix-brussels) Rides with the cavalry, greets Amelia and Jos warmly, and gambles with George, cooperating with Rebecca's schemes. ### [The Girl I Left Behind Me](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxx-the-girl-i-left-behind-me) Deeply affected by the leave-taking; expresses concern for Becky's future and his debts; gives her his savings and a draft on Osborne's banker. ### [In Which Jos Sedley Takes Care of His Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxi-in-which-jos-sedley-takes-care-of-his-sister) Mentioned in Jos's thoughts as a jealous husband with dueling pistols. ### [In Which Miss Crawley’s Relations Are Very Anxious About Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiii-in-which-miss-crawley-s-relations-are-very-anxious-about-her) Now a Lieutenant-Colonel and C.B., he sends war relics to his aunt, but she remains unforgiving of his marriage to Becky. ### [James Crawley's Pipe Is Put Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiv-james-crawley-s-pipe-is-put-out) In high spirits in Paris, enjoying gambling and parties, unaware of the impending loss of his aunt's inheritance. ### [How to Live Well on Nothing a Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxvi-how-to-live-well-on-nothing-a-year) Becomes a consummate gambler, winning consistently at cards and billiards; rushes to England upon news of Miss Crawley's illness. ### [The Subject Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-subject-continued) Writes a conciliatory letter to his brother, feels the sting of social slights, and secretly dotes on his son. ### [XL: In Which Becky Is Recognized by the Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xl-in-which-becky-is-recognized-by-the-family) Mentioned as the recipient of a loan from Miss Briggs, arranged by Becky. ### [In Which Becky Revisits the Halls of Her Ancestors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xli-in-which-becky-revisits-the-halls-of-her-ancestors) Accompanies Becky, feeling abashed and recalling his boyhood and lost innocence. ### [XLIV: A Roundabout Chapter Between London and Hampshire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xliv-a-roundabout-chapter-between-london-and-hampshire) Hosts his brother Sir Pitt, expresses concern about debts to Raggles, and is moody about not getting money from Pitt. ### [Between Hampshire and London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlv-between-hampshire-and-london) Feels isolated and subjugated, reduced to a torpid, submissive state by Rebecca's influence. ### [In Which the Reader Is Introduced to the Very Best of Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlviii-in-which-the-reader-is-introduced-to-the-very-best-of-company) Becky's husband, largely unaware of her financial dealings; goes to his Club while Becky manages their affairs. ### [In Which We Enjoy Three Courses and a Dessert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlix-in-which-we-enjoy-three-courses-and-a-dessert) Rawdon accompanies Becky to the dinner and shares a laugh with Lord Southdown over Lady Bareacres' humiliation. ### [LI: In Which a Charade Is Acted Which May or May Not Puzzle the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/li-in-which-a-charade-is-acted-which-may-or-may-not-puzzle-the-reader) Becky's husband, present at social events, described as large and military in figure. ### [In Which Lord Steyne Shows Himself in a Most Amiable Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lii-in-which-lord-steyne-shows-himself-in-a-most-amiable-light) Becomes suspicious of Becky's dealings but is reassured by her feigned warmth; grows watchful and domestic, accompanying her everywhere; is eventually imprisoned. ### [A Rescue and a Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/liii-a-rescue-and-a-catastrophe) Imprisoned for debt, then discovers Becky's infidelity and leaves her. ### [Sunday After the Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/liv-sunday-after-the-battle) Arrives at Sir Pitt's house in disheveled state, reveals his ruin, and prepares for a duel with Lord Steyne. ### [In Which the Same Subject Is Pursued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lv-in-which-the-same-subject-is-pursued) Accepts the governorship of Coventry Island after persuasion by his brother and Macmurdo, and later sends colonial produce and newspapers home. ### [A Vagabond Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxiv-a-vagabond-chapter) Now Governor of Coventry Island, he sets aside a small allowance for Becky and demands she never trouble him again. ### [LXVII: Which Contains Births, Marriages, and Deaths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxvii-which-contains-births-marriages-and-deaths) Dies of yellow fever at Coventry Island, deeply beloved and deplored. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/rawdon_crawley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters