George Wickham

Also known as: Mr. Wickham / Wickham · Family: militia · Role: officer · First appears: Chapter 15

In chapter 15, George Wickham was introduced at Meryton by Mr. Denny as a friend who had accepted a commission in the militia. He and Fitzwilliam Darcy exchanged only a restrained salutation. The next day, an invitation was promised for him to dine with Mr. Philips and Mrs. Philips, and by chapter 16 he had become the object of Elizabeth Bennet’s attention: she danced with him, listened to his account of his connection with the Darcy family, and went home thinking of him. Wickham said that the late Mr. Darcy had been his godfather, patron, and closest friend, that they had been raised together, and that Georgiana Darcy had once been very fond of him. He also claimed that Fitzwilliam Darcy had unjustly denied him the church living promised by his father.

By chapter 18, Caroline Bingley had disclosed that Wickham was the son of the late Mr. Darcy’s steward, while Jane Bennet reported that his misconduct had caused Fitzwilliam Darcy to withdraw his regard. Wickham avoided the Netherfield ball to escape Darcy, though his accusations against Darcy continued to be publicly discussed. His preference for Elizabeth Bennet remained apparent, but her attachment was discouraged; soon afterward he turned his attentions to Miss King, whose inheritance of ten thousand pounds had made her an attractive prospect. Later accounts stated that these attentions were mercenary. Wickham had exchanged his claim to the living for three thousand pounds, and Fitzwilliam Darcy later revealed that he had refused Wickham’s renewed request, exposed his attempted elopement with Georgiana Darcy, and removed Mrs. Younge from her charge. Elizabeth came to recognize Wickham’s character and, after hearing Darcy’s account, chose not to expose him publicly.

After Wickham left Meryton with the regiment, he was described as having become wild in the army, and it became known that he had left debts in Derbyshire which Fitzwilliam Darcy discharged. In chapter 46, Wickham eloped with Lydia Bennet toward Scotland; reports suggested that he had not intended to marry her, and Colonel Forster later learned that Wickham had considerable gaming debts and no near relations able to assist him. Mr. Gardiner found them in London and arranged terms for the marriage, with financial support and debts undertaken by the Gardiners and the Bennets; Darcy also paid Wickham’s debts, settled money on Lydia, and purchased his commission. Wickham married Lydia at St. Clement’s, received a promise of an ensigncy in the regular army, and was to join his regiment after a fortnight. Fitzwilliam Darcy attended the wedding, while Elizabeth Bennet later rejected Lydia and Wickham’s expectations of further financial assistance from him.