Who is Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey and what is their importance?

Henry Tilney is the second of the three children of General Tilney and is twenty-six years old during the period of time considered by the novel. His mother died when he was seventeen and he was since raised by his father. Several years older than Catherine Morland, Henry nevertheless develops a true friendship with the younger woman and subsequently falls in love with her. Henry is everything that the obnoxious John Thorpe is not—wealthy, of true character, and worthwhile as a friend and partner.