He is of Napoleonic aspect, being short, square and dumpy. He usually gets his own way. He used to wear a scarlet wool waistcoat as a sort of trademark.
He started his career as a clerk in a solicitor's office and later founded the Mammoth Publishing Co. Like newspaper barons before and after, he was raised to the nobility and became the first Viscount Tilbury.
He keeps pigs at his country house in Buckinghamshire, including one called Buckingham Big Boy. He has (had) a London home in Manchester Square and later at The Oaks, Wimbledon Common. His niece, Linda Rome, kept house for him at the latter.
As Lord Tilbury, he employed Sam Shotter to please Sam's uncle while trying to buy an island in Maine from him (for the trees). At this time he was ordered off alcohol as he had the beginnings of gout. (Sam the Sudden)
He had a contract with Galahad Threepwood to publish his Reminiscences, but Gally backed out. Tilbury went to Blandings Castle to see Gally (who calls him 'Stinker' Pyke) but was mistaken for a pig-nobbler and ended up in a potting shed. Standing on his contract as giving him moral rights he employed Pilbeam, already at Blandings, to 'steal' the manuscript. This plotting also went horribly wrong. (Heavy Weather)
He later returned to Market Blandings to meet the Duke of Dunstable who had offered to get the Empress of Blandings for him for £2,000. The Duke was outbid by Lavender Briggs, an ex-secretary of Tilbury working at Blandings Castle - she only wanted £500. Neither delivered, of course, and Tilbury was left yearning for that superb pig. (Service with a Smile)
When his millionaire brother, Edmund Biffen Pyke, died in America, he expected to inherit. However, Edmund left his money to his godson, Edmund Christopher, who had once saved his life. Thanks to a condition that Edmund must not be arrested before his thirtieth birthday, Lord T. saw a chance to cut him out. Once again, he turned to Percy Pilbeam. He had also fallen for his secretary, Gwendoline Gibbs, who happened to be Percy's cousin, and proposed to her. (Frozen Assets)