Edward Gardiner is a tradesman in London, husband to Mrs. Gardiner and father to four children. He is the younger brother of Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Bennet, making him uncle to the latter's children, and he is particularly fond of his nieces Jane and Elizabeth, whom he often invites to visit his family in London or on trips with him and his wife.
Biography[]
Edward Gardiner was born the youngest child and only son of the former attorney in Meryton. One sister married their father's clerk Mr. Phillips, who succeeded him in the business, and his other sister married Mr. Bennet, the master of nearby Longbourn. He was superior to his sisters by nature as well as education.
Mr. Gardiner settled in London and entered a respectable line of trade, living on Gracechurch Street within view of his warehouses. Around ten years before Pride and Prejudice begins, he married M. Gardiner. They have two daughters, who are six and eight in June, and two younger sons.
He and his wife visit Longbourn at Christmas, leaving their children at home. They invite Jane, who is pining for Mr. Bingley, to stay with them in London, and before Easter they also host Elizabeth, Sir William Lucas, and Maria Lucas for a few days on their way to Hunsford.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner invite Elizabeth to join them on a trip to the Lake District, but when it is delayed and shortened by his business affairs, it becomes a trip to Derbyshire. He is amused by Mrs. Reynolds's praise of her master when they tour Pemberley, but after they meet Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Gardiners are impressed by his attentiveness and obvious interest in their niece. Darcy invites Mr. Gardiner to fish at Pemberley with two or three of his guests.
After they receive news of Lydia's elopement with George Wickham, Mr. Gardiner takes his niece to Longbourn before continuing to London where he takes over the search from his brother-in-law. Darcy joins him and locates Lydia and Wickham and bribes Wickham into marrying her. Initially Darcy insists Mr. Gardiner take credit for his efforts, but after Lydia tells Elizabeth that Darcy was at her wedding, Elizabeth is able to get the truth out of her aunt.
Following Elizabeth and Darcy's wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are invited to spend Christmas at Pemberley. The Darcys are grateful to the Gardiners for bringing her into Derbyshire and reuniting them.
Character analysis[]
Mr. Gardiner is a sensible and gentlemanlike man with easy and pleasant manners. He is superior to his sister due to how he shows himself to be conscientious and responsible during the course of Lydia's elopement.
He is fond of fishing and shows an interest in plant life during his visit to Pemberley.
What to call him[]
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
Edward - no one in the book calls him this, we only know it is his first name from a letter that he wrote to Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Gardiner - this is how he is typically referred to, even his niece Elizabeth refers to him as "Mr. Gardiner" when she is speaking to Darcy (though later in the conversation she does also refer to him as "my uncle").
My uncle - the Bennet daughters all use this appellation, with out a name attached as their primary means of referring to him.
My brother Gardiner - when Mrs. Bennet is complaining to Bingley about the way Lydia's wedding appeared in the papers, she refers to Mr. Gardiner as "my brother Gardiner."
