Philippe Robillard (died 1844)is the cousin of Ellen O'Hara and her first love. He seems to have been quite a scandalous person for the quiet,
obedient, pious Ellen to love. He died in a drunken fight in a pub after an arguement. After this, fifteen-year old Ellen married Gerald O'Hara.
Ellen never told her husband, daughters or even Mammy about Philippe. Despite their short affair, and Ellen's long and happy marriage to Gerald, when she dies her final word is a loud cry "Philippe!". This puzzles her relatives, who have no idea who Philippe is. Only the readers know, through the omniscient narrator.