Who leads the company of dwarves?

Who leads the company of dwarves? Thorin Oakenshield leads the company in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Thorin is the heir of the Kingdom under the Mountain, also called Erebor or the Lonely Mountain. Smaug the dragon drove Thorin’s grandfather Thrór and the Dwarves from Erebor, taking their halls and treasure. Thorin’s quest is to reclaim that homeland and its wealth, especially the Arkenstone.

The company consists of Thorin and twelve other Dwarves. Gandalf helps organize the expedition and persuades Bilbo Baggins to join as a burglar. Thorin remains the company’s leader throughout the journey, although Bilbo sometimes makes the practical decisions that save them.

A common mix-up is Dáin Ironfoot, who becomes Thorin’s successor after the Battle of the Five Armies. Fili and Kili are Thorin’s nephews, while Balin is an older member of the company and a trusted companion, not its leader.