Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Lore & Background

Arthur Wellesley was born into a Protestant Ascendancy family in Dublin, the sixth of nine children. He was commissioned as an ensign in 1787 and served in Ireland as aide-de-camp to two lords lieutenant. He was also elected to the Irish House of Commons. Rising to colonel by 1796, he served in the Flanders campaign and then in India, where he fought in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and won a decisive victory at the Battle of Assaye in 1803.

During the Peninsular War, Wellesley rose to prominence as a general and was promoted to field marshal after the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. After Napoleon's first exile, he served as ambassador to France and was made Duke of Wellington. In 1815, during the Hundred Days, he commanded a British-led army that, with a Prussian army under Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

After his military career, Wellington returned to politics as a prominent Tory. He served as prime minister from 1828 to 1830 and briefly in 1834. He oversaw the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and opposed the Reform Act 1832. He remained Commander-in-Chief of the Forces until his death in 1852.

Reader's Guide

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, is a central figure in British and European history. His military career culminated in the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, a battle that ended the Napoleonic Wars and reshaped the continent. His political career as prime minister saw the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, a major step toward Catholic emancipation, though he opposed the Reform Act 1832. Wellington's legacy is that of a commander who helped secure British dominance in the 19th century and a conservative statesman who navigated a period of significant political change. His long service as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces until his death underscores his enduring influence on the British Army.

Did You Know?

• The exact date and place of his birth are disputed; he may have been born on 1 May 1769 or christened on 30 April 1769.
• He was a descendant of Edward I of England through Elizabeth of Rhuddlan.
• He served as British ambassador to France after Napoleon's first exile in 1814.
• He oversaw the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 while prime minister.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Variant: 'Tis of no matter, your Highness, I have seen their backs before." — Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington "I believe I forgot to tell you I was made a Duke." — Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington "Napoleon has humbugged me, by God; he has gained twenty-four hours' march on me." — Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington "At the Duchess of Richmond's ball (15 June 1815), as quoted in Camps, Quarters, and Casual Places (1896) by Archibald Forbes, quotes Captain Bowles account and citing the Letters of the First Earl of Malmesbury." — Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington