A widower for some 20-25 years, he is father to: Lord Bosham (and grandfather to his sons), the Hon. Frederick Threepwood and Lady Mildred Mant.
He has eight living siblings: Lady Ann Warblington; Lady Constance; Georgiana, Lady Alcester; Lady Julia Fish; Lady Charlotte; Lady Hermione Wedge; Lady Dora Garland; and brother Galahad*. (Two more, Diana and Florence, might have appeared in the unfinished novel Sunset at Blandings). There were two others, now deceased: Lady Jane and Lancelot*. (See also the Threepwood family page.)
Educated at Eton in the sixties, where he was known as 'Fathead'. He was a member of the Shropshire Yeomanry when he was about 30 but did not see active service. He is still an excellent shot with an air-gun, but as blind as a bat without his glasses (he also wears pince-nez on a string). His Lordship is described variously as elderly, thin-faced, bald-headed, amiably vacant, tall, lean and stringy, of mild and benevolent aspect, and '... a fluffy-minded man with excellent heath and a large income'. He has a reedy tenor voice. 'In times of stress [he] always tended to resemble the Aged Parent in an old-fashioned melodrama when informed that the villain intended to foreclose on the mortgage.' Since the death of his wife, he avoids women. In this he is helped by being quick on his feet and having a policy of disappearing like a diving duck.
He dislikes wearing a stiff collar in summer, and a top hat at any time, and would rather slouch around in old clothes while watching the Empress consume the calories. A succession of sisters are determined he will take his part in the County, which causes him some annoyance; he has to be forced to attend the Opening of Parliament, a privilege of his rank. However, about twice a year he gets into a berserk mood when he is even capable of standing up to his sister Connie. These moods can be recognized by his face going a light mauve in colour and his eyes glowing.
Not completely antisocial, he is a country member of the Senior Conservative Club and a member of the Shropshire, Herefordshire and South Wales Pig Breeders Association. He has a dip in the lake every morning before breakfast, swimming about fifty yards, and prefers plain English food. He can drive, including his son's sports car. He enjoys reading books on pigs, which calm him in times of stress, as does the presence of his prize-winning pig, the Empress of Blandings.
He accidentally offended the poet Ralston McTodd, on account of losing his spectacles, then mistook Psmith for McTodd and invited him to Blandings. (Leave it to Psmith)
He lost a son but gained a prize in The Custody of the Pumpkin, was mistaken for his son in Lord Emsworth Acts for the Best, learnt a pig call in Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey!, appointed a vicar in Company for Gertrude, threw a book in The Go-getter and found a friend in Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend.
Beside himself when the Empress was stolen, he employed Percy Pilbeam to find her. Percy failed but when his secretary 'found' her, he readily agreed to his marriage to his niece, over Lady Constance's objections. Then Lady Julia objected to the marriage of her son Ronnie to Sue Brown and Lord E. nearly gave in under the combined pressure of Julia and Lady C. by refusing to release Ronnie's trust. There were also more perceived threats to the Empress, with neighbour Sir Gregory Parsloe getting the blame. (Summer Lightning and Heavy Weather)
He shot Baxter, newly returned, with an airgun and offered to take him on as secretary. He was let off when someone else shot Baxter who decided to leave. Lord E. was also pestered by his niece who wanted to marry against Lady Constance's wishes. (The Crime Wave at Blandings)
When the Duke of Dunstable invited himself to Blandings, he misunderstood Lord E. to have agreed to give him the Empress. Horrified at this, and Connie's agreement, Lord E. called in Lord Ickenham to help. They plotted to have the Empress moved to Ickenham's place out of harm's way but the menace disappeared before that. The Empress still went missing, however. (Uncle Fred in the Springtime)
He wanted to have the Empress's portrait painted and his son Freddie produced a painter (who also happened to be the man that Lord E.'s niece Prudence wanted to marry). Unfortunately Lord E. took exception to the painting, produced on cubist principles, and sacked the chap. He didn't give up on the idea, however, and Galahad provided another painter. (Full Moon)
When Mrs Bunbury is invited to stay, he slowly falls for her. Fortunately, for she is really Maudie Stubbs the owner of a detective agency and Beach's niece, she wanted another, and he was left a bachelor. He was also troubled when the Empress was stolen. (Pigs Have Wings)
He visited New York to attend the wedding of one of his nieces. While there he tried to emulate his son Freddie by becoming a salesman - of encyclopaedias of Sport. (Birth of a Salesman)
Returning from New York for a second time, he found Blandings infested by a sister, a secretary and an old flame, he still managed to spread confusion and light. (Galahad at Blandings)
When Galahad and Freddie were laid up, he was persuaded to try and pinch a dog. (Sticky Wicket at Blandings)
Thinking he was free, he was shocked when Lady Constance arrived for the summer, and the Duke of Dunstable invited himself again. Happily, Galahad also arrived to help a godson. (A Pelican at Blandings)
Secretaries - in order:
Rupert Baxter
Psmith
Hugo Carmody
Monty Bodkin
Jerry Vail
Lavender Briggs
Sandy Callender