Who is Mr Elliot in Persuasion?

William Elliot is Anne’s cousin and the heir to her father’s title and Kellynch Hall. He is charming but turns out to be selfish.

Does Anne marry Mr Elliot?

No. Anne learns from Mrs Smith that he cannot be trusted, and she marries Captain Wentworth instead.

Why is Mr Elliot important to the story?

He offers Anne a safe, respectable marriage that Lady Russell favours, which gives Anne and Wentworth a rival to get past before they are reunited.

From Persuasion

William Elliot

Cousin and heir • Smooth and scheming

Sir Walter’s smooth-talking heir, who seems charming but hides selfish plans.

Who is William Elliot?

William Elliot is Anne’s cousin, who will one day inherit Kellynch Hall. He has smooth manners and pays lots of compliments, so Sir Walter and Lady Russell think he is wonderful. Anne feels uneasy around him, though, and she soon learns that his charm hides selfish plans to protect his own future.

William Elliot is a character in Persuasion, the 1817 novel by Jane Austen, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is William Elliot like?

charming
sly
selfish

William Elliot’s story

William Walter Elliot is Sir Walter’s cousin and the heir to his title and to Kellynch Hall, because Sir Walter has no son. Years ago he was introduced to the family, then disappeared and showed little interest in them, even marrying a wealthy woman of lower rank. Sir Walter was offended and the two cut off contact.

He is now a widower. When he appears again, he is polite, well dressed and eager to be friends. Sir Walter is flattered, Elizabeth hopes to marry him, and Lady Russell approves. He pays special attention to Anne, who at first finds him agreeable but is never fully at ease with him.

It is from Mrs Smith that Anne learns the truth. Mr Elliot is careful, calculating and cares only for himself, and he has treated his old friend badly. He also keeps close company with Mrs Clay, a friend of Elizabeth’s, and at the end the two of them leave Bath together. Anne is relieved that she never became his wife.

“he was a man of exceedingly good manners”

Jane Austen, the narrator, Anne’s first impression of the stranger at Lyme. From the original 1817 novel by Jane Austen.

A moment to remember

On the beach at Lyme, a stranger in a dark coat stops to admire Anne, and only later does everyone learn he is cousin William.

Sir Walter Elliot: his cousin, whose title he will inherit
Anne Elliot: the cousin he hopes to marry
Lady Russell: the family friend who is taken in by him
Mrs. Smith: the old friend of his whom he wronged

Talk about it

William said nice things but did not act kindly. How can you tell if someone is truly a good friend?

Questions about William Elliot

Who is Mr Elliot in Persuasion?: William Elliot is Anne’s cousin and the heir to her father’s title and Kellynch Hall. He is charming but turns out to be selfish.
Does Anne marry Mr Elliot?: No. Anne learns from Mrs Smith that he cannot be trusted, and she marries Captain Wentworth instead.
Why is Mr Elliot important to the story?: He offers Anne a safe, respectable marriage that Lady Russell favours, which gives Anne and Wentworth a rival to get past before they are reunited.