Character Type: Fictional character

Mr. William Collins is a clergyman and distant cousin of Mr. Bennet, the protagonist of Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Collins is the current heir presumptive to the Bennet family estate of Longbourn, as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have no sons. He is a pompous, self-important man who is constantly trying to curry favor with his wealthy patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr. Collins is also a bit of a fool, and his pompous behavior often leads him to make social gaffes. Despite his many flaws, Mr. Collins is a well-meaning man who is ultimately kind and generous.