Son of Colonel Marrable, and nephew of Sir Gregory from whom he inherited his estate. Home on leave from India, he met his cousin Mary Lowther, fell in love with and eventually married her.

"He had served in India, and the naturally dark colour of his face had thus become very swarthy. His black hair curled round his head, but the curls on his brow were becoming very thin, as though age were already telling on them.... His eyebrows were thick and heavy, and his eyes seemed to be black.... He wore no beard beyond a heavy black moustache, which quite covered his upper lip. His nose was long and straight, his mouth large, and his chin square.... he lacked two full inches of the normal six feet. He was broad across the chest, strong on his legs"