David Copperfield first meets James Steerforth as a boy attending Salem House boarding school.

David quickly comes to admire and respect him, as the other boys at the school do, and a friendship begins to develop between the two.

The illustration by Phiz shows that David Copperfield is responsible for the intrusion of Steerforth into the Peggotty household on the night of Emily's engagement to Ham, and all that followed.

[1] During this visit, Steerforth catches sight of Dan's niece Emily (known by her family as "Little Em'ly"), and plans his seduction of her.

He is unsuccessful in his quest to rescue Emily because of Mrs Steerforth's devotion to her son, and her snobbery causes her to scorn the Peggotty family.

Mr Peggotty leaves home on a quest to find his niece, searching throughout Europe for her.

The sailor whom Ham sought to rescue is found to be Steerforth; his death brings grief and shock to both his mother and Miss Dartle.