#can i just say that i hate some of the popular/common characterizations of benedict as a dad?

[unfortunate-arrow]

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Mr. and Mrs. Benedict Bridgerton had four children. As the second son with a wife of questionable ancestry, Mr. and Mrs. B. Bridgerton’s children do not bring the intrigue that the children of the Viscount and Viscountess as well as Mr. B. Bridgerton’s sisters’ numerous children. Eldest son Charles (intimately known as Charlie) is a country doctor, based in Wiltshire not far from where he grew up. Dr. Bridgerton was not often seen in London due to his demanding career. As such, it was no surprise that Dr. Bridgerton found his wife outside of town. What was surprising was that Dr. Bridgerton’s wife, one Miss Helena Shepherd was the governess to a handful of Dr. Bridgerton’s cousins. Meanwhile, second son Alexander is based in London, as a renowned architect. Of course, Mr. Alexander Bridgerton’s renown did not help him in his courtship of Lady Emma Rutledge, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Ashbourne. The dowager duchess, Lady Emma’s grandmother, was mightily against the match and, reader, it is said that the dowager viscountess, Mr. Alexander Bridgerton’s grandmother, was instrumental in organizing the match. Third and youngest son, William, has recently become a professor of history and the French language at Oxford. The most elusive of Mr. and Mrs. B. Bridgerton’s children, Mr. W. Bridgerton was known to keep the company of his family above all else. It was Mr. W. Bridgerton, reader, that married the Irish and Catholic Miss Roisin O’Connolly, ward to the earl of Fotherby. Mr. and Mrs. B. Bridgerton’s only daughter, Violet, has had a difficult series of seasons on the marriage mart. A kind and friendly young woman, Miss V. Bridgerton had been courted by no fewer than six different men. It was the sixth man, the newly minted marquess of Insley (and, reader, Lord Insley has a scandal of his own), that finally captured to picky Miss V. Bridgerton’s heart.  

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗱𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱 “𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲” 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻

Born in 1818, Charlie is named after his invented maternal grandfather and his real paternal grandfather. It was the easiest name decision that Benedict ever made. Naming his son after his father was the easiest decision ever… significantly easier than naming Alexander and William and easier than picking Violet’s middle name. He usually goes by Charlie.

Charlie, like both his brothers, inherited the Bridgerton chestnut brown hair. In addition, he has the same color eyes as his mother. Charlie stands at 6’1”, which makes him taller than Alexander but shorter than William. 

Charlie’s godparents are Posy and Anthony. 

Charlie is a momma’s boy. He adores his mother. They’ve always been close and he often goes to her for advice.

Out of his family, Charlie is the most in touch with his emotions. He’s definitely an introvert, but he is able to articulate his emotions better than any of his siblings (and his father). Charlie also enjoys spending time with other people, although not as much as his sister does. 

Charlie has a very curious nature. He wants to know everything about everything. He loves to learn and has a very open mind about new scientific and medical discoveries.

Charlie is a doctor. He was driven, in part, by the feeling of helplessness that accompanied his little brother’s horse riding accident. He took a few classes during his early years of university and fell in love. Charlie works in the village that he grew up in, taking over after the village’s old doctor retired. In addition, Charlie generally accepts medical advancements easily. He’s known to talk people’s ears off about the new theories and advancements that pop up, especially when he’s in London. However, Charlie has never wanted to be a city doctor. He’s quite comfortable with working in the country as long as he can keep up with discoveries and advancements from the city. 

In the summer of 1846, Charlie took a little holiday to visit his Uncle Gregory and Aunt Lucy and their horde of children. He loved his silly mass of cousins. He just hadn’t been counting on her. Her, of course, referred to the governess that Gregory and Lucy had hired a few months prior, a Miss Helena “Nell” Shepherd. Charlie fell hard and fast for Miss Nell Shepherd, and she felt it too, although she was a lot more cautious than Charlie. They married in November of 1846. Charlie was 28 and Nell was 25.

Charlie and Nell have five children together. Their eldest child, a son named Norman Benedict Bridgerton, was born in early 1848. Eighteen months later, in the summer of 1849, Sophia Abigail Bridgerton, was born. Three years later, in 1852, Margaret Helena “Meg” Bridgerton was born. Two years later, in 1854, James Edmund Bridgerton was born. Three years later, in 1857, their youngest son, Shepherd Charles Bridgerton, was born. 

In the modern ‘verse, pediatrician Charlie Bridgerton meets year 2/first grade teacher Nell Shepherd when his little cousin, Eloise, invites him to speak during her school’s career day. Nell also happens to be his little cousin (and Eloise’s twin sister), Frannie’s teacher.

𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻

Born in 1820, Alexander’s middle name, Benedict, is after his father. Benedict had initially been a bit reluctant but eventually came around when he heard the names together.

Alexander, like his brothers, inherited the Bridgerton chestnut hair. He also inherited Sophie’s eye color. Alexander is the shortest of Benedict and Sophie’s three boys, standing at 6’0”… which means that he’s still taller than many of his cousins who are on average between 5’9” and 5’11”. 

Alexander’s godparents are Colin and Eloise. 

Alexander is a bit of a momma’s boy. He’s not as close to Sophie as Charlie is, but he’s closer to her than either William or (at least, during childhood) Violet. 

Alexander has a protective streak. He refuses to put up with people saying negative things about his family. In addition, Alexander also refuses to stand by when people are being bullied. As a result, he got into a lot of fights at school with older boys who were picking on the smaller boys. He also had a lot of fights with people who said things about his family. Alexander is especially protective of William, after the younger boy’s horse riding accident. 

Alexander is the most artistic of Benedict and Sophie’s four children. He could be a talented painter if he wanted to be one. However, Alexander also has Sophie’s knack for numbers. These two talents lead Alexander into the world of architecture and he becomes a talented architect.

Alexander enjoys fencing and is a talented fencer. He’s the best out of his brothers and is the only one who can regularly beat Violet at it. In addition, Alexander enjoys practicing boxing, but he’s rarely interested in competing.

Alexander is an introvert, who prefers to spend time with a select group of people, mostly his big family. As an adult, he often feels like he expunges most of his energy on his clients. Therefore, when it comes time to attend balls, Alexander is usually less than enthusiastic. However, he is more extroverted than William, but not as extroverted as Charlie or Violet.

Alexander usually appears fairly uptight, but he’s actually a romantic at heart. He enjoys doing small romantic gestures for the woman he’s in love with. If you asked his wife, Lady Emma, the most meaningful gift that she ever received from Alexander was a pair of spectacles while they were courting. 

In the 1847 season, Alexander promised his grandmother that he would attend more balls than usual. It ends up being a pretty good decision as, at a ball hosted by the Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton, Alexander meets Lady Emma Rutledge, the daughter of a duke. He falls hard for the young woman, and despite her grandmother’s objections, Lady Emma falls in love with him too. Alexander married Lady Emma that year, 1847. He was twenty-seven, while Emma was twenty-four. 

Alexander and Emma had two children together. Their twins, Vincent Charles Bridgerton and Beckett Nicholas Bridgerton, were born in 1857. Alexander and Emma faced difficulty conceiving and carrying children, a difficulty that brought Alexander closer to his Aunt Francesca and Uncle Michael. 

In the modern ‘verse, Alexander is an architect who falls in love with a rich girl and artist, Emma. 

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻

Born in 1822, William’s middle name, Nicholas, is shared with Benedict. Benedict’s middle name is after Nicholas Rokesby, Edmund’s best friend and eventually, Edmund’s brother-in-law. 

Like his brothers, William inherited the Bridgerton chestnut brown hair. He also has the same color eyes as his father, which means that William looks the most like his late paternal grandfather. Of course, that likeness is slightly interrupted by the fact that William wears glasses and has since the age of eleven. He is the tallest of Benedict and Sophie’s three sons, standing at 6’2”. 

William’s godparents are Gregory and Francesca. 

Sophie’s pregnancy with William was the toughest one. She suffered from a more severe morning sickness than with the other three and she was placed on bed rest shortly before William was born. Labor was also the most stressful and she bled more than she had with the other three. Modern ‘verse William was born three weeks prematurely.

At the age of ten, William was involved in a horse riding accident where he fell off the horse and was knocked unconscious. He was trying to keep up with his brothers and older cousins (Edmund, Miles, David, and Oliver) when his horse got spooked and reacted in a way that caused William to fall. At 17 and as the eldest male cousin, Edmund took charge and gave orders to David and Miles while Oliver calmed the horse. In the end, it was Edmund’s quick thinking that meant that William was only minorly injured. He’d badly broken his right arm and both legs and had a concussion, but aside from the occasional word finding difficulty, William had walked away with no permanent injuries or issues.

William had always been the quietest of Benedict and Sophie’s children. This was exacerbated by the accident and occasional word finding difficulties, but it had always been his nature. He didn’t confide his thoughts and feelings to many people. He tended to keep to himself, and unfortunately, William had inherited his father’s tendency to keep things bottled until they blow up.

William keeps a lot of his struggles quiet and to himself. No one knows how much he struggles to find a career that he feels is suitable. The clergy was a no-go, as was the military. He wasn’t as good at math and numbers as Alexander and Charlie. He didn’t have the creativeness or lightheartedness that Violet had. He doesn’t have passions the way some of his cousins do. He was not big on farming or investing. In the end, William ends up as a university professor, teaching French and history. He’s known to be a generous professor and many students try to have him as their tutor. 

In 1848, while shopping for books, William literally ran into Róisín O’Connolly while coming out of a shop. He stopped to help her pick up her packages and finds himself becoming smitten with Róisín and her Irish accent. After that encounter, though, he’s convinced he’ll never see her again. He’s shocked to see Róisín at a parlor, debating fiercely the policies surrounding the current food conditions of the Irish people with a member of the House of Lords. It’s not an easy relationship, what with managing religious differences (he’s Anglican and she’s Catholic). Despite that, William married Róisín in the fall of 1848. He was 26 and she was 24.

William and Róisín have four children together. Their eldest child, a daughter named Johanna Mary “Jo” Bridgerton, was born in 1850. Two years later, in 1852, Clare Sophia Bridgerton was born. Two years after Clare, in 1854, Sarah Róisín Bridgerton was born. Finally, three years later, in 1857, their only son, Patrick William Bridgerton was born. 

In the modern ‘verse, William works as a history teacher, following the footsteps of his parents as Benedict and Sophie both become teachers. He falls in love with journalist Róisín O’Connolly.

𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻

Born in 1824, Violet is named after her paternal grandmother and her mother. Sophie originally hadn’t wanted to name her daughter directly after herself, but eventually came around when she met Violet and Benedict insisted that she was a Violet Sophia. 

Violet is the one of her siblings to have inherited Sophie’s hair color. She does not have Sophie’s eye color, though. Instead, she has Benedict’s eye color. Violet is also the child to look the most like Sophie. She has Sophie’s petite frame too, standing at 5’3”. 

Violet’s godparents are Phillip and Daphne. 

Violet is very close to her father. They have a very good and close relationship, partially due to being the only girl and being the only child at home for a few years. Benedict often refers to Violet as his favorite daughter. 

Violet is the most extroverted of the four Benophie kids. She’s still an introvert, but she enjoys being out and about in the social world a lot more than her three brothers do. She loves to chat with cousins and family and friends. However, Violet also tends to be quite guarded around those who are not family, especially after she has six failed courtships. 

Violet enjoys baking. She doesn't want to be responsible for a whole crowd or party, but baking occasionally for her family is very much up to Violet’s enjoyment. It’s a hobby.

Violet is a big animal lover. She’s known to bring all sorts of stray animals home, from those that should be pets to those that really shouldn’t be pets. At age 5, she begs Benedict and Sophie for a puppy, with help from her brothers. They relent and adopt a retriever puppy, the runt of the litter. Violet makes the family house dog people.

Violet took fencing lessons with her brothers, after much pleading. To her great satisfaction, she is the best fencer in the family. She struggles to best Alexander, the next best fencer (and really, that's only by a hair), the most. 

In the 1848 season, Violet declared that it was to be her final season. She was tired of being used by the men of the ton. Luckily, fate was on her side, and Violet met the 22nd marquess of Insley, Jack Fullerton. He’s new to the ton’s world and with a complicated (and scandalous) family history. And there’s just something about being around Jack that leaves Violet feeling content and like letting her guard down. Violet and Jack married in January of 1849. She was twenty-four and he was twenty-six. 

Violet and Jack have four children together. Their eldest, a son named Thomas Benedict Fullerton, was born in late 1849. Two years later in 1851, Henry Jack Fullerton was born. Three years later, in 1854, Josephine Sophia “Josie” Fullerton was born. Four years later, in 1858, their youngest child and son, Lysander William Fullerton, was born.

In the modern ‘verse, recently graduated veterinarian Violet meets Olympic hopeful and ice hockey player, Jack Fullerton, who has recently come into an extremely generous inheritance from an uncle he never knew existed. It’s a bit chaotic and messy and everything, but boy do Jack and Violet love each other. 

Anthony & Kate’s children | Colin & Penelope’s children | Daphne & Simon’s children | Eloise & Phillip’s children | Francesca & Michael’s children | Gregory & Lucy’s children | Hyacinth & Gareth’s children