Arthur Bell Nicholls

c. 1861

From a photograph of that time

Source: Wood, facing p.72

"A big, tall man, with a strong square face, framed by dark hair and formidably long side whiskers, Arthur Nicholls had something of the Rochester physique" (Barker 711). Charlotte Brontë's future husband came to Haworth as her father's curate in May 1845, and was present at the various crises that the family underwent in the years that followed (he officiated at Emily's funeral), and staunch in his loyalty to Charlotte even when Patrick Brontë reacted to the marriage proposal by dismissing him. After Patrick Brontë was finally prevailed upon to give his assent, the couple were married on 29 June 1854. Nicholls stayed on after Charlotte's death to look after his father-in-law in his old age (see Whitehead 87-88).

Image acquisition and text by Jacqueline Banerjee.

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