Will Whitfoot

From Tolkien Gateway
Will Whitfoot
Hobbit
Storn Cook - Will Whitfoot.jpg
"Will Whitfoot" by Storn Cook
Biographical Information
Other names"Flourdumpling"
PositionMayor of Michel Delving
LocationMichel Delving
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Will Whitfoot

Will Whitfoot was the Mayor of Michel Delving during the War of the Ring.

History[edit | edit source]

Whitfoot was elected Mayor at the Free Fair late in the Third Age, at least as late as S.R. 1413.[note 1]

He was renowned as being the fattest hobbit in the Westfarthing, and was affectionately referred to as "Flourdumpling" after he emerged from the collapse of the Town Hole covered in chalk. Peregrin Took later caused a great deal of laughter at the Prancing Pony when he related that incident to the Bree-folk.[1]

He was one of the first victims of the new rule of Lotho Sackville-Baggins and Sharkey. He went to protest against Lotho's felling of trees, but was apprehended by Ruffians on his way to Bag End. He was locked up in the Lockholes, and Lotho usurped his title.[2] He was freed after the Battle of Bywater, but was at first unfit for duty as Mayor, so Frodo Baggins served as Deputy Mayor.[3] He was officially restored as Mayor on the next Free Fair, on Midyear's Day of S.R. 1420.[4]

Will Whitfoot resigned in S.R. 1427, and was succeeded by Samwise Gamgee.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name "Whitfoot" is derived from "White foot".[5]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Will Whitfood in adaptations
Will Whitfoot in The Lord of the Rings Online  

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Mayor Will Whitfoot can be found in the centre of Michel Delving. He provides several early quests to Hobbit characters and is also involved in several seasonal festivals.

Notes[edit source]

  1. The date is not given by Tolkien, but is suggested as possible by Robert Foster. Since the Free Fair is septennial, Will must have been Mayor since the last Fair before T.A. 3020 (3020-7=3013). However, as we are not told that was his first term, it's possible that he might already been serving since T.A. 3006 or even earlier. See Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 428, entry "Will Whitfoot".

References

Will Whitfoot
Preceded by:
Unknown
Mayor of Michel Delving
by S.R. 1413 - S.R. 1427
Followed by:
Samwise Gamgee