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Hotspur
Governor Grant is a respected older cab driver. For the most part, whatever he says, the other drivers agree with or accept as fact. However, he still thinks of Jerry as being a better man than him, since Jerry doesn’t drink alcohol. The Governor sometimes stands up for the horses’ welfare, but he also can’t ignore how many poor drivers feel like the only way to feed their families is to abuse and overwork their horses. When Jerry contracts bronchitis, the Governor helps out his family by driving Hotspur in the afternoons and giving the family half the proceeds. He insists to Harry that it’s important to help people whenever possible. He purchases Hotspur when Jerry plans to leave London.
Governor Grant Quotes in Black Beauty
The Black Beauty quotes below are all either spoken by Governor Grant or refer to Governor Grant. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 39 Quotes
“[…] and I say ‘tis a mockery to tell a man that he must not overwork his horse, for when a beast is downright tired, there’s nothing but the whip that will keep his legs agoing—you can’t help yourself—you must put your wife and children before the horse, the masters must look to that, we can’t. I don’t ill-use my horse for the sake of it; none of you can say I do. There’s wrong lays somewhere—never a day’s rest—never a quiet hour with the wife and children.”
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Black Beauty LitChart as a printable PDF.
Governor Grant Character Timeline in Black Beauty
The timeline below shows where the character Governor Grant appears in Black Beauty. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 32
...but Black Beauty finally reaches the city. His owner, Jerry, greets a man he calls Governor when they pass a cab stand. Then, Jerry turns Black Beauty onto a narrow side...
(full context)
Chapter 33
...suggest that Black Beauty is too good-looking—there must be something wrong with him. When the Governor inspects Black Beauty and says he’s a good horse, the other drivers accept his judgment.
(full context)
Chapter 35
...says lots of “curious things” about rich men, so he doesn’t want to be one. Governor Grant says Jerry would deserve his wealth if he was rich, but the other driver...
(full context)
Chapter 39
...of it. This is a regular topic of conversation on the cab stand, and the Governor often speaks up if he sees a horse in particularly rough shape.
(full context)
...Sam pulls up to the cab stand driving a horse that looks completely beat. The Governor suggests Seedy Sam belongs at the police station, but Seedy Sam says in a desperate...
(full context)
...weather for weeks on end. Black Beauty has never seen Jerry look sadder, and the Governor acknowledges that this is hard work. He doesn’t know how to fix things, but he...
(full context)
...morning, raving about his boss, Skinner, and how he never had a Sunday to rest. Governor says soberly that this is a warning for all the drivers.
(full context)
Chapter 44
...while the cab is repaired and when he returns to the stand, he tells the Governor that Captain won’t work again. He might be able to cart, but that’s a death...
(full context)
...that he’d like to abolish alcohol so drunkards stop hurting innocent people and animals. The Governor admits that he drinks and Jerry is making him feel bad, but Jerry suggests he...
(full context)
Chapter 45
...Beauty learns that Jerry is very ill. On the third day of Jerry’s illness, the Governor visits the stables while Harry is there. Harry explains that Jerry has bronchitis and will...
(full context)
In the morning, Harry tells the Governor that Jerry is better. The Governor is thrilled. He says that Black Beauty will be...
(full context)
...not young anymore, and three years as a cab horse has left its mark. The Governor purchases Hotspur, but Black Beauty doesn’t find out where he’s going until after the children...
(full context)
