David Alford
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| Portrayed by Rupert Penry Jones | |
| Full Name | David Archibald Alford |
|---|---|
| Title | Earl of Auckland |
| Associated Noble House(s) | Earldom of Auckland, Viscountcy of Eastwick |
| Date of Birth | 19th November, 1783 |
| Father | James Alford |
| Father's Rank | Earl of Auckland |
| Mother | Constance Alford (née Grey) |
| Mother's Rank | Countess of Auckland |
| Town Residence | |
| Income | |
| School | Eton |
| University | Oxford |
| Year Attained Title | 1807 |
David Alford is the seventh Earl of Auckland and a former character.
David was played by Francesca
Family
- Father: James Alford, 5th Earl of Auckland (1744-1804)
- Mother: Constance Alford (née Grey), Countess of Auckland (1759-1797)
- Brother: Peter Alford, 6th Earl of Auckland (1778-1807)
- Sister: Lady Sarah Alford (1793)
- Sister: Lady Agnes Alford (1795)
- Maternal Aunt: Susanna Edgeworth, née Grey, Lady Saxton
- Cousin: Lord Tristan Edgeworth, Viscount Latimer
- Cousin: Lady Cassandra Edgeworth
History
David was born the second son of James and Constance Alford, and grew up close to his mother but distant from his father. He attended Eton and then Oxford, preparing to take orders, becoming the Reverend Alford. After the deaths of his father and brother, however, he became Lord Auckland and took charge of his family estate which had fallen into disrepair under the ownership of his somewhat dissolute brother.
Having restored the estate and the Auckland name to something respectable, David has come to London in order to find a wife.
Personality
David would describe himself (without being overly arrogant, of course) as a prudent, responsible, abstemious, and God-fearing man. While there is certainly some truth to this assessment, it must be added that he can also be unusually prudish, overly critical, and suspicious. His temper, when aroused, is implacable, and he has always found the virtue of forgiveness rather difficult to master.
David is exceptionally judgemental. He has very set ideas about how people are supposed to act and will be vocal in his displeasure if someone fails to live up to the ideals marked by their positions in society. David is nothing if not plain-spoken. Indeed, having built a career on ranting at a captive audience for four years, he has made something of an art out of offering his opinions in the baldest terms possible. Native arrogance and the privilege of rank leave little room for fear of the consequences of giving offence to anyone. As a result, he rarely sees the need to curb his tongue, which can be scathing, and is of the belief that more often than not, people need to hear exactly what he thinks of them, whether they like it or not.
This is not to say that David is not controlled. If anything, he has a little too much self-control. He finds it very difficult, if not practically impossible, to take spontaneous pleasure in things. This, he thinks, is just as well, since the pursuit of pleasure – even small, innocuous ones - is dangerous and can lead to far more perverse and evil things. Even though he is no longer a vicar, he is still prone to warn people of the peril they are putting their eternal souls in by their heedless search for amusement. Indeed, the urge to preach is the one temptation that he cannot resist. He loudly and publicly decries the evils of drinking, gaming and whoring, while turning an equally stern eye to feminine frivolities, foibles, and indiscretions.
David is not wholly devoid of virtues. He is certainly not unintelligent for one thing, and can lay some claim both to erudition and common sense. He is also extraordinarily mindful of his duties, and under some circumstances, even possesses some degree of compassion, especially towards the poor and less fortunate. It is his own class that he regards with the most suspicion – as the highest up on the social scale, he considers them most beholden to set an example to their inferiors and consequently, holds their behaviour up to the strictest standards.