George Hackett

George Hackett

Portrayed by David Rintoul
Full Name	George Hackett, Lord Selwyn
Title	Viscount Sewlyn
Associated Noble House(s)	Earldom of Morven, Viscountcy of Selwyn
Date of Birth	4th April, 1785
Father	George Hackett
Father's Rank	Earl of Morven
Mother	Elinor Hackett (nee Gosling)
Mother's Rank	Countess of Morven (deceased)
Town Residence	Morven House, Upper Brook Street
Income	£2500 p.a.
School	Eton
University	Cambridge (Christ's College)
Year Attained Title	N/A

George Hackett, Lord Selwyn is the heir to the Earldom of Morven and only son of Lord Morven. He is twenty-six years old and is in London in search of a suitable wife. He recently returned from a much extended Grand Tour of Italy where he had a secret mistress, opera singer Patrizia Dell'Angelo, and an illegitimate son. George is serious and academically minded but secretly rather likes the unconventional.

George is played by Rose.

Family

George Hackett, Earl of Morven - father
Elinor Hackett, Countess of Morven (deceased) - mother

Silvio Selwyn Dell'Angelo - son

Augusta, Duchess of Leicester - sister
Lawrence, Duke of Leicester - brother-in-law
James Harpole, Marquess of Spalding, Lady Henrietta Harpole, Lady Georgiana Harpole, Lord Augustus Harpole - nephews and nieces

Elizabeth Wingrave, Baroness Comfield - sister (deceased)
Simon Wingrave, Baron Comfield - brother-in-law

Nicholas, Duke of Leighton - first cousin
Lord William Gosling - first cousin

Background

Childhood and University (1785-1807)

George was brought up at the Hackett family estate at Morven Castle in Dorset. He lacked nothing in terms of material comforts but his father was distant and controlling, especially after the death of the Countess. His sister, Augusta, five years his senior, was a proud and ambitious girl from childhood and they had little in common. He got on better with his other sister, Eliza, who was closer to him in temperament. However, they saw less of each other once George went to school and then university. Being naturally introspective and studious, George thrived at Eton in everything except sport and social interaction. His only childhood friends were the Fotherington children: Mark, Hugo and Lucia whose estate, Hazeldeane, was close to Morven. As the children grew older, a vague plan was formed by their parents to unite the two estates by a marriage between George and Miss Fotherington. The protagonists, however, had no interest and the plan was eventually abandoned.

After Eton, George went up to Christ's College, Cambridge to read Classics. He proved himself a true scholar and spent most of his degree in libraries studying, while his fellow students discovered alcohol, gambling, and women. The one good friend George made in Cambridge was Arthur Dalrymple. He looks back on his Cambridge years as a happy time.

Italy (1807-1811)

The year George graduated from Cambridge, his sister Elizabeth died in childbirth. As the member of his family whom he loved most, her loss hit George hard, particularly after he had had the pleasure of seeing her happily married for seven years. It spurred him to put into action his plan of travelling through Europe, his desire to see the continent merging with his need to escape his home and family. Due to the precarious situation in France, George travelled through Holland and Germany before descending into Italy, collecting classical remains on his way. He arrived in Florence in late September 1807, met a charming opera singer called Patrizia Dell'Angelo and never left. They lived together for four years and in 1808 she bore him an illegitimate son, Silvio. They were very much in love.

George always knew his life in Italy would have to be temporary, and the marching orders came in January 1811 when his father suffered a stroke and he was summoned home. George left Italy and his family in February and has since then spent his time between his father in Dorset and London. He brought back many beautiful paintings and quite a few Roman statues. The breakup was painful but amicable, and George continues to support Patrizia and his son financially.

Current Season 1811

Lord Morven's state of health has impressed on George the necessity of his finding a wife soon to provide a legitimate heir and his attendance in the London season is pretty much aimed solely at achieving the goal of a suitable marriage to a young lady of wealth and family. He is supported in this by his sister, now Duchess of Leicester. Augusta disapproved of his extended stay in Italy though she does not know its reasons and hopes that he will marry well and settle into life as an equally ambitious peer of the realm now.

George guards the secret of his mistress and son carefully, believing that if his history were known he would have a harder time finding a suitable wife. The only person in London who knows of Patrizia's existence is Captain Sterne who stayed at George's home near Florence for several days while Patrizia was pregnant. George worries that the Captain might betray his secret.

George has pursued his goal of finding a wife with mixed results. He has ended up torn between the very eligible Lady Julianne Grafton and Miss Hutchinson. It really should not be any kind of contest. Apart from choosing a wife, George is pleased to spend time with his old friend from university, Lord Linley. The biggest problem is trying to deal with the problems of neglect at Morven Castle which his father is no longer well enough to run.

As the season progresses, George tries to progress with choosing a wife. An early attraction to Lady Julianne fades away without continual interaction but Miss Hutchinson is not so easily replaced and George is finding it harder and harder to deny his interest in her, particularly after the unfortunate accident in Hyde Park on Saturday 11th May. His sister Augusta's meddling by introducing him to Dosie Knox and Victoria Mulholland as potential wives has not been a success.

Relationships

Friends

Arthur Dalrymple, Lord Linley: a fellow Cambridge classicist and George's closest friend.

Mark Fotherington: A friend from childhood and they still get on. They shared the burden and privilege of being heirs.

Hugo Fotherington: Also a childhood friend though they weren't as close as George and Mark.

Thomas Sterne: George met the Captain in Italy and they get on relatively well, though George remains rather in fear of him now since he knows about Patrizia.

Benjamin Hutchinson: George's banker. However they since met at Almack's and George rather likes him despite his background.

Robert Vickery: Another friend from Cambridge.

Victor Kincaide: George has a similar outlook to Victor and gets on with him.

Francis Harpole: Frank is George's brother-in-law and finds him a good companion.

Potential Wives

See George's List of Potential Wives.

Lady Julianne Grafton: Currently at the top of the list for being beautiful, socially graceful, rich, and from an excellent family. George likes her a lot but something is stopping him from making the decision to pursue her seriously.

Lady Juliet Landon: George found her intelligent and attractive as well as rich and well-connected. Removed with regret on the occasion of her engagement.

Lady Rosalind Fairmont: Despite their having absolutely no chemistry, George does admire her and would consider her as a suitable wife.

Charity Pritchard: Was on the list but removed with some regret when she appeared in a shockingly revealing gown at the Emerson Ball.

Sybilla Grenfell: George was impressed with her when he danced with her at the Vickery Ball.

Love Interest

Patrizia Dell'Angelo: George's mistress between 1807 and 1811 and the mother of his son, Silvio. Quite possibly the love of his life.

Susannah Hutchinson: Not really eligible as a wife but George really likes her. He is trying to pretend he doesn't.

Trivia

• George's favourite classical author is Tacitus. While he claims that he reads him for the historical interest, he secretly rather enjoys the lurid retellings of scandal within the imperial household.
• While abroad, George collected a number of historical relicts including numerous classical busts and statues, several pots of Greek origin and a number of grand masters of the Renaissance.

Thread Tracking

Monday 8th April

• Early to the Theatre[1]: Meeting Julianne at the theatre
• The Dressing Rooms[2]: With Beatrice Howard after the show

Tuesday 9th April

• Boodle's[3]: With Arthur in Boodle's
• The Bank[4]: Meeting Ben Hutchinson in the bank

Wednesday 10th April

• Drunkenness is Voluntary Madness[5]: After Almack's with the blokes

Almack's

• Arrivals[6]: Arrivals thread
• At the refreshment table[7]: With Kate, Mark, Hugo, Julianne, Thomas
• Ti Ricordi? (Do you remember?)[8]: With Thomas during the above thread
• Public Opinions[9]: With Julianne
• Selina[10]: With Kate
• Hit or Miss[11]: With Imogen
• During the fourth dance[12]: In the foyer with Imogen, John, Sukey, Ben, Mark
• An Inclination to Dance a Reel[13]: Alternative failed thread to the above
• The Prince's Snuffbox[14]: With Sukey
• After the Fifth Dance[15]: With Rosalind and Arthur
• The Jubilee[16]: With Juliet
• Twelve O'Clock[17]: With Cassandra

Thursday 11th April

• He's Got a Little List[18]: George thinks about marriage
• Outside the Bookshop[19]: With Charity outside Decker's
• Anticipating Flowers[20]: Calling on Julianne

Sunday 14th April (Easter Sunday)

• Easter Sunday[21]: Group church thread

The Emerson Ball

• Inspecting the Ranks[22]: With Mark, Hugo, Tony
• Caledonian Laddie[23]: First dance with Penelope
• Tiptoe through the Tulips[24]: Fifth dance with Julianne

Tuesday 16th April

• General Reaction Thread[25]: At the musicale

Friday 19th April

• Morning Meeting[26]: With Arthur and Mark in Boodle's
• Adventures in Vauxhall Gardens[27]: Meeting Sukey in Vauxhall

Beningborough Dinner

• An Odyssey in Soup[28]: With Rosalind over dinner
• ... for your thoughts[29]: With Penelope over dinner
• Jewel in the Crown[30]: With Julianne after dinner

Monday 22cd April

• Conversational Delights[31]: With Nate at Belle's party

Wednesday 24th April

• A Delayed Call[32]: Calling on Sukey

Thursday 25th April

• Salon[33]: Georgiana's literary salon

Saturday 27th April

• Happy Families[34]: Meeting Jemima Palmer in the bookshop

Monday 29th April

• ...and three are congress[35]: At Lady Louth's dinner

Tuesday 30th April

• Business with a Friend[36]: Meeting Ben Hutchinson in the bank
• A Tony Gathering[37]: At Julianne's dinner party

Wednesday 1st May

• George Hackett to Benjamin Hutchinson[38]

Wednesday 8th May

• Evening Return[39]: On returning from Dorset, he bumps into Tony and Lizzie

Thursday 9th May

• Bangles & Boredom, a Clock & a Call[40]: Calls on Dosie
• Billiards for Two[41]: Meets Robert Vickery at Boodle's

Friday 10th May

• In a rich man's world[42]: At the bank with Ben Hutchinson
• Get in Croquembouche, we're going to Hyde Park[43]: An unfortunate run-in with Dosie and Helena
• A book a day keeps the doctor away[44]: Meeting Lady Julianne and Katherine Winter in the bookshop

Saturday 11th May

• All Your Ducks in a Row[45]: George and his sister see Sukey and Ben Hutchinson tumble in the lake
• A Diplomatic Retreat[46]: With Augusta after the pond incident
• King of the Castle[47]: With Thomas Sterne at the Middleton Ball

Sunday 12th May

• A fool in Cheapside[48]: Calling on Sukey Hutchinson

Monday 13th May

• Two Handsome Viscounts Playing Billiards in Their Shirtsleeves[49]: Billiards with Victor Kincaide and Francis Harpole
• Once Upon a Time in Fair London Town[50]: George arrives at Emma Vickery's ball
• Won't be a a flower on this wall[51]: George dances with Sybilla Grenfell

Tuesday 14th May

• Ain't this fun[52]: George is inveigled into supper with Victoria and her family at the Ridotto

Wednesday 15th May

• A Greeting Long Delayed[53]: Simon calls

Thursday 16th May (Fitzgerald Ball)

• They have their exits and entrances[54]: Arrival at the ball
• If you find him sad, say I am dancing[55]: First dance with Sybilla
• Almost nobody dances sober, unless he is insane[56]: Third dance with Bee
• All things are ready, if our minds be so[57]: Fourth dance with Blanche
• A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of[58]: Augusta confronts George after the fourth dance
• You and I can set the world on fire[59]: Fifth dance with Jemima

Friday 17th May

• My family and other animals[60]: George collects his nephew for a day out from Augusta