---
type: Person
title: Sir William Lucas
description: Knighted former Meryton tradesman, master of Lucas Lodge and father of
  Charlotte Lucas.
resource: raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt
tags:
- hertfordshire
- gentry
- meryton
timestamp: '2026-07-16T18:15:29Z'
citadel_version: 0.3.0
---

Sir William Lucas had formerly been in trade in Meryton, where he made "a tolerable fortune" and
was knighted after making an address to the king during his mayoralty.[^s1] Uncomfortable
afterward with trade and small-town life, he moved his family to a house about a mile from
Meryton, renamed Lucas Lodge.[^s1] He is the father of [Charlotte Lucas](../persons/charlotte-lucas.md).[^s2]

At a party, Sir William attempts to pair [Elizabeth Bennet](../persons/elizabeth-bennet.md) with
[Mr. Darcy](../persons/fitzwilliam-darcy.md) for a dance, calling her "a very desirable partner,"
though Elizabeth declines.[^s3] He later travels to [Longbourn](../misc/longbourn.md) to announce
Charlotte's engagement to [Mr. Collins](../persons/mr-collins.md) to the Bennet family in
person.[^s4]

When the Collinses take refuge at Lucas Lodge from [Lady Catherine](../persons/lady-catherine-de-bourgh.md)'s
anger over [Darcy](../persons/fitzwilliam-darcy.md)'s engagement, Sir William compliments Darcy at
length on "carrying away the brightest jewel of the country" and hopes they will all meet at
St. James's; Darcy bears it "with admirable calmness," shrugging his shoulders only once Sir
William is out of sight.[^s5]

## See also

- [Charlotte Lucas](../persons/charlotte-lucas.md)
- [Meryton](../misc/meryton.md)
- [Fitzwilliam Darcy](../persons/fitzwilliam-darcy.md)
- [Lady Catherine de Bourgh](../persons/lady-catherine-de-bourgh.md)

## Sources

[^s1]: [raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt](../../raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt), lines 1247-1253 — Sir William's history and move to Lucas Lodge (ingested 2026-07-16)
[^s2]: [raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt](../../raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt), lines 1261-1264 — Charlotte identified as his eldest daughter (ingested 2026-07-16)
[^s3]: [raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt](../../raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt), lines 1574-1577 — Sir William tries to pair Elizabeth with Darcy (ingested 2026-07-16)
[^s4]: [raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt](../../raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt), lines 5326-5330 — Sir William announces Charlotte's engagement (ingested 2026-07-16)
[^s5]: [raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt](../../raw/pride-and-prejudice.txt), lines 14362-14367 — Sir William's obsequious compliments to Darcy (ingested 2026-07-16)
