Waverley · Character

Humphry Houghton

Waverley's former servant who becomes a sergeant in the Hanoverian army.

minor

Also known as Sergeant Houghton, Sergeant Humphry Houghton, Houghton, poor Humphrey

First appearance: part ii vi a volunteer sixty years since

Humphry Houghton shows up with force in An Examination. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Sergeant in Gardiner's dragoons; mentioned as a former subordinate of Waverley and a key figure in the mutiny allegations.

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In An Examination: Sergeant in Gardiner's dragoons; mentioned as a former subordinate of Waverley and a key figure in the mutiny allegations. Later, in A Conference and the Consequence: Sergeant in Waverley's troop;…

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See Humphry Houghton in part ii vi a volunteer sixty years since

Character Web

19 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Minor and Historical Figures
Central Jacobite and Waverley Circle
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this passage, Waverley reaches an emotional and psychological peak as he violently oscillates between self-…

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In the story

Humphry Houghton appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

An Examination
Sergeant in Gardiner's dragoons; mentioned as a former subordinate of Waverley and a key figure in the mutiny allegations.
A Conference and the Consequence
Sergeant in Waverley's troop; detected in correspondence with a French emissary and implicated in a desertion plot.
An Incident Gives Rise to Unavailing Reflections
Dying former sergeant of Waverley's troop; reveals he was deceived by a forged seal into mutiny.
XXII: Intrigues of Love and Politics
Condemned to death by court-martial but spared by lot; shows penitence and defends Waverley's honor.

Chapter companion notes

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See Humphry Houghton in part ii vi a volunteer sixty years since

See Humphry Houghton in An Examination