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This essay mainly examines the ideal of a Victorian gentleman. The ideal of gentleman and gentlemanliness has long been the most important concept in English masculinity as Kun-Tze in China and Seon-bi in Korea. This important spiritual and physical concept, however, was not developed in a short period of time in English history. It has been modified, developed, and sophisticated over several hundred years. Therefore, this essay explores the changing concepts of the ideal of a true gentleman in some significant conduct manuals for gentleman from the sixteenth century. Taking advantage of a large number of microfilms regarding English masculinity, entitled Masculinity: Men Defining Men and Gentleman, 1560-1918, released by Bodleian Library in 2002, this essay shows significant changes in the concepts of a true gentleman over a long period of time. When it comes to the ideal of a Victorian gentleman, conduct-books by some well-known Victorian writers such as Matthew Arnold, John Stuart Mill, Samuel Smiles are analyzed to argue that a gentleman was not necessarily associated with landed property or financial wealth alone in the Victorian period. Although these qualities were not ignored as an important elements for a gentleman, personal qualities like good natured gentlemanly mind were treated more significantly, which suggested ample possibility for social mobility in Victorian England.