History of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington - GOV.UK GOV.UK Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Tory 1834 to 1834, 1828 to 1830 Born 1 May 1769, Dublin, Ireland Died 14 September 1852, Walmer Castle, Kent Dates in office 1834 to 1834, 1828 to 1830 Political party Roman Catholic Relief Act: removed many of the restrictions on Roman Catholicism in the UK. Interesting facts He is famous for his major role in the Napoleonic wars. Wellington boots are named after him. After his first Cabinet meeting as PM: “An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them.” Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke of Wellington is today more famous as a soldier than as a politician. In fact, as the Prime Minister, he was known for his measures to repress reform, and his popularity sank a little during his time in office. The Duke of Wellington was born in Dublin to the Earl and Countess of Mornington.

Fatherless at an early age, and neglected by his mother, he was a reserved, withdrawn child. He failed to shine at Eton, and instead attended private classes in Brussels, followed by a military school in Angers. Ironically, the young duke had no desire for a military career. Instead he wished to pursue his love of music. Following his mother’s wishes, however, he joined a Highland regiment. He fought at Flanders in 1794, and directed the campaign in India in 1796, where his elder brother was Governor General. Knighted for his efforts, he returned to England in 1805. In 1806 he was elected Member of Parliament for Rye, and within a year he was appointed Chief Secretary of Ireland by the Duke of Portland . He continued with his military career despite his parliamentary duties, fighting campaigns in Portugal and France, and being made commander of the British Army in the Peninsular War. He was given the title Duke of Wellington in 1814, and went on to command his most celebrated campaigns in the Napoleonic Wars, with final victory at Waterloo in 1815.

When he returned to Britain he was treated as a hero, formally honoured, and presented with both an estate in Hampshire and a fortune of £400,000. After the Battle of Waterloo, he became Commander in Chief of the army in occupied France until November 1818. He then returned to England and Parliament, and joined Lord Liverpool ’s government in 1819 as Master General of the Ordnance. He undertook a number of diplomatic visits overseas, including a trip to Russia. In 1828, after twice being overlooked in favour of Canning and Goderich , the Duke of Wellington was finally invited by King George IV to form his own government and set about forming his Cabinet. As Prime Minister, he was very conservative; known for his measures to repress reform, his popularity sank a little during his time in office. Yet one of his first achievements was overseeing Catholic emancipation in 1829, the granting of almost full civil rights to Catholics in the United Kingdom. Feelings ran very high on the issue. The duke persuaded the King only by his threat of resignation.

Lord Winchilsea, an opponent of the bill, claimed that by granting freedoms to Catholics Wellington “treacherously plotted the destruction of the Protestant constitution”. As a result, he and Winchilsea fought a duel in Battersea Park in March 1829. They deliberately missed each other in firing, and honour was satisfied. The duke had a much less enlightened position on parliamentary reform. He defended rule by the elite and refused to expand the political franchise. His fear of mob rule was enhanced by the riots and sabotage that followed rising rural unemployment. His opposition to reform caused his popularity to plummet to such an extent that crowds gathered to throw missiles at his London home. The government was defeated in the Commons, and the duke resigned, to be replaced by Earl Grey . He continued to fight reform in opposition, though he finally consented to the Great Reform Bill in 1832. Two years later he refused a second invitation to form a government, and instead joined Sir Peel ’s ministry as Foreign Secretary. He later became Leader of the House of Lords, and upon Sir Peel’s resignation in 1846, retired from politics.

In 1848 he organised a military force to protect London against possible Chartist violence at the large meeting at Kennington Common. ‘The Iron Duke’ died in September 1852 after a series of seizures. After lying in state in London, he was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral, London. The Wellington Arch still stands in London’s Hyde Park. He also gave his name to the humble Wellington boot. Help us improve GOV.UK The Duke of Wellington [ Victorian Web Home —> Political History —> Prime Ministers ] Three paintings of the Duke reproduced in The Illustrated News (1852) — left to right: Portraits by Pelligrini, Sir Thomas Lawrence, and Sir George Hayter. [Clock on thumbnails for larger images.] Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and one of England's greatest military leaders, served as Prime Minister from 22 January 1828 to 16 November 1830 and again from 17 November to 9 December 1834.

The third son (the fourth child of six) born to Garrett Wesley , first Earl of Mornington and Anne Hill, the man later known as "the Iron Duke" was born in Dublin on 1 May 1769. The family was from the Anglo-Irish ascendancy and Wellington maintained links with his Irish family and friends throughout his life. He was educated at the Diocesan School at Trim in County Meath; between 1781 and 1784 he attended Eton and then was tutored privately by the Rev. Henry Michell in Brighton. In 1785 he went to Brussels where he was again tutored privately. He had little interest in education and appeared to be uncomfortable with society life. In order to find something which "poor Arthur" could do, his parents purchased a commission as an ensign for him in the 73rd Regiment of Foot in May 1787; in December he became a Lieutenant in the 76th Foot and the following month he transferred to the 41st in Dublin. Later he moved to the 12th Light Dragoons.

When he arrived in Dublin, he became aide-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and served in that post until March 1793. On 30 April 1790 Wellington was elected to the Irish parliament in Dublin as MP for Trim even though he was under age at the time. He continued to represent the constituency until 1797 when he left to go to India. He also continued in the army, moving up in rank through the purchase system: 30 June 1791 Captain in the 58th Foot 30 April 1793 Major in the 33rd Foot September 1793 Lieutenant-Colonel May 1796 Colonel Wellington saw active service for the first time between June 1794 and April 1795 when his regiment was posted to the Netherlands in the early stages of the French Wars. His next experience of warfare was in India during the fourth Mysore War where he was involved in the fighting against Tippoo Sultan.

The campaign culminated in the siege and fall of Seringapatam in May 1799; Wellington was appointed as Governor of Seringapatam by the Governor-General of India, Lord Mornington — who happened to be Wellington's eldest brother. In 1803, and by then a Major-General, Wellington fought in the second Mahratta War against Scindiah of Gwalior; his successful campaigns included victories at Assaye and Argaum. Wellington was created a Knight of the Bath for his work in India in September 1804. He returned to England a year later and reported to Lord Castlereagh at the Foreign Office. There he met Admiral Lord Nelson who died six weeks later, on 21 October, at the Battle of Trafalgar. Wellington was appointed Colonel of the 33rd Regiment of Foot in January 1806. April 1806 was a busy month for Arthur Wellesley: he was elected as MP for the borough of Rye on 1 April; on 10th he married Catherine Pakenham in Dublin. She was the daughter of Baron Longford, also one of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy.

In 1791, Wellington was in debt and Lord Longford refused to allow him to marry Kitty; it seems that Wellington felt obliged to keep his promise to marry her even though he found her very trying. Kitty was over-emotional, self-critical, and easily depressed. She was incompetent as a housekeeper and continually found herself in debt, which infuriated Wellington, whom she hero-worshipped. She was described by contemporaries as unaffected and simple-minded. Kitty died on 24 April 1831, but the couple had been estranged for a long time prior to that. On 22 April Wellington made his maiden speech in the House of Commons, defending his brother's Indian policies. In 1807 Wellington found himself elected as MP for Mitchell in Cornwall, Newport on the Isle of Wight and for Tralee in County Kerry. He chose Newport. Concurrently he was appointed as Chief Secretary for Ireland by the Duke of Portland and worked with Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond who was the Lord-Lieutenant. Like Wellington, Richmond served in the British army from 1787.

By October 1807 the Peninsular Campaign was under way after the French declared war on Portugal, Britain's oldest trading partner. The French occupied Spain in May 1808, which led to a Spanish and Portuguese revolt. A British expeditionary force under the temporary command of Wellington was sent to Iberia on 1 August by Lord Grenville 's ministry; in its first campaign the British defeated the French at the Battle of Rolica and at Vimeiro. Unfortunately, the new commander, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Burrard insisted that the Convention of Cintra was signed: it gave very favourable terms to the French. Wellington was blamed for the Convention although he was cleared of responsibility by a military enquiry in Britain whence he returned in October 1808. Sir John Moore was left in command of the army in the Peninsular. In January 1809, Moore led his troops in retreat to Corunna but was killed in the subsequent battle. Wellington resigned as Chief Secretary for Ireland and resumed command of the army in Iberia. From then until 1815, Wellington was occupied with leading the British army in the defeat of the French.

He was created Earl of Wellington in February 1812 at Spencer Perceval 's recommendation; eight months later, at the start of Lord Liverpool 's ministry, he was elevated to a Marquisate and in May 1814 he was given a Dukedom; he took his seat in the House of Lords in June. Parliament gave him several grants of money in recognition of his achievements in the French Wars including a £15,000 annuity in 1814 and £200,000 in 1815 to buy an estate: he purchased Stratfield Saye in Hampshire.. He also received £60,000 in prize money after the Battle of Waterloo but returned £40,000 of this to the Treasury. The Duke of Wellington bought Stratfield Saye in 1817, using the money voted to him by parliament for 'services rendered' in the defeat of Napoleon. Wellington's comment after the Battle of Waterloo was, 'Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won'.

Although he was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, he did not return to active military life but became a politician and 'elder statesman'. He was important as a diplomat in the years following the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig in 1814 and then after Waterloo in June 1815: August 1814 Wellington took up residence in Paris as Ambassador to France April-March 1815 he was Britain's representative at the Congress of Vienna July-November 1815 (after Waterloo) he was commander of the army of occupation in France; he was Britain's delegate to the Congress of Aix la Chapelle October-November 1822 he was Britain's delegate to the Congress of Verona February-May 1826 Wellington was sent to Russia to try to avert a Russo-Turkish war over Greece. Czar Nicholas I had succeeded to the throne in 1825 and was very much an 'unknown quantity' at this point On 22 January 1827 Wellington accepted the post of Commander-in-Chief of the British army but resigned when Canning became PM in April.

He was reappointed by Goderich in August 1827 and then became PM in his own right on 22 January 1828. When it was realised that he was still Commander-in-Chief there was a public outcry and he was forced to resign that position. Wellington's Tory government was defeated in the House of Commons when MPs voted in favour of repealing the Test and Corporation Acts. In February 1828 Wellington decided to pass the legislation himself, a measure in diametric opposition to traditional Tory 'Crown, Church and Constitution' policies. The next month Wellington's President of the Board of Trade introduced legislation for a sliding scale on corn duties which was passed without amendment. Huskisson refused to vote with the government and resigned, precipitating the County Clare election that led ultimately to the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act on 13 April 1829. However, before the legislation passed, the Duke fought a duel with Lord Winchilsea over the issue of Catholic Emancipation: both men deloped and honour was deemed to be satisfied. Wellington also took the opportunity of Huskisson's resignation to remove all the other Canningites who were in his Cabinet.

"Number 1, London": Apsley House, the London home of the Duke of Wellington. He had steel shutters fitted to the windows because they were cheaper than replacing the glass each time a mob broke them. [Click on thumbnail for larger image.] Following the death of George IV, the new king William IV kept Wellington as his PM; however, the campaign for parliamentary reform was gathering strength and was advocated by the Whigs in both Houses of Parliament. On 2 November, Earl Grey demanded to know whether Wellington intended to introduce any reform measure. Wellington's speech in response to Grey's question caused such a furore that he was obliged to resign on 16 November; Earl Grey formed the first Whig ministry since 1783 and brought in the so-called Great Reform Bill in 1832. After Grey's resignation in July 1834, a ministry that lasted only four months was formed by Lord Melbourne . When he resigned, the king asked Wellington to form a ministry. The Duke declined but suggested that the post should be offered to Sir Robert Peel who was in Italy. Wellington became acting PM until Peel's return, remaining in the Cabinet as Foreign Minister in Peel's first ministry.

When Peel resigned in April 1835, Wellington found himself out of office; he led the Tory opposition in the House of Lords until the start of Peel's second ministry in September 1841, at which point he became a Cabinet Minister without Portfolio until Peel's next resignation in June 1846. Three illustrations from The Illustrated London News's series on Wellington's funeral — left to right: Lying in State at Chelsea Hospital; the Funeral Procession; and The Duke of Wellington's Funeral Car. [Click on thumbnails for larger images.] Once he was out of office, Wellington was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the army, a post that he held until his death, which took place suddenly at Walmer Castle on 14 September 1852. He lay in state there until 10 November and then in Chelsea Hospital until 17 November. He was given a state funeral and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral . He was 83 years old.

Related Materials The Duke of Wellington: 11 things you didn't know - Telegraph Culture The Duke of Wellington: 11 things you didn't know As a new exhibition opens at the National Portrait Gallery marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, we dig out some little-known facts about the Iron Duke The Duke of Wellington: pioneer of the military crew cut Photo: Photo: The National Gallery London. By Jonathan McAloon 12:44PM GMT 12 Mar 2015 1) Wellington was Irish Although Wellington is remembered as a British military hero, and was honoured with land and titles in England during his life, Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852) was actually born in Dublin. However, he never thought of himself as Irish and claimed, perhaps less than tactfully, that "because a man is born in a stable it does not make him a horse". The Duke of Wellington as Prime Minister in 1829 (unfinished portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence) 2) Wellington became a politician at 20 Everyone knows that he was twice elected Prime Minister after retiring from the battlefield, but Wellington had already worked in politics long before that.

After an education at Eton, in Brussels and in France – a country that, lest we forget, he later trounced on the battlefield – Wellesley went into the Irish Parliament at just 20 years of age, where he served for five years. The little blighter: Wellesley was elected to Parliament at the age of 20 3) Wellington thought the British Army was rubbish When he first started out, that is. At the age of 25, Wellington fought in the 1794 Flanders Campaign during the French Revolutionary war. He was appalled by British strategy. It was this that inspired him to study the art of war. 4) Wellington has at least 90 English pubs named after him If you are an Iron Duke enthusiast, you can drink in 53 pubs called the Duke of Wellington , as well as 37 that go by an unadorned "Wellington". And that’s just in England. The Duke of Wellington is the oldest licenced pub in Melbourne, and now serves a variety of gastropub food. And then of course there are the countless pubs called simply The Duke. Just don't feel the need to get a pint in each one.

Enjoy a selection of real ales in Dalston's The Duke of Wellington pub 5) Wellington hated fighting Though he rarely showed emotion, Wellington cried when he read the list of dead after Waterloo and he would always avoid unnecessary bloodshed. He was upset by the sight of battle carnage and never glorified warfare, putting him in line perhaps with a more modern mindset. Though he always demanded obedience, in person Wellington was reserved, raising his voice only at officers he considered pampered. As a junior officer, he often failed to punish the men who thieved and pillaged on his watch. Wellington, in an uncharacteristic show of aggression, challenges Prince Regent to a duel in Black Adder the Third 6) Wellington anticipated military camouflage Wellington wore dark clothes without decoration so that enemies would not be able to distinguish him from other officers in the field. Because of this, he wasn’t an easy target for those looking to assassinate him and could stay close to the front line, managing the lowest of his troops in the thick of battle. This can be seen as a forerunner of the modern camouflage adopted during the First World War.

Modestly clad: Hugh Fraser plays the Duke of Wellington in the ITV series Sharpe 7) Wellington pioneered the military crew cut At a time of powdered wigs or pigtailed hair, Wellington kept his hair short. This was considered a sign of modish flamboyance: Beau Brummell , the Regency dandy credited with inventing the monochrome suit, wore his hair short, and so did the fashionable London elite. But as for practical, earthy and plain-living gentlemen, wigs or longer, powdered hair were considered more respectable. Though he was noted for his sharp dress sense, even being nicknamed “the Beau” by his soldiers, his hairdo was a functional affair. After a while, the sense of having less hair to worry about during battle filtered down through the ranks.

Hair raising: The Duke of Wellington (left) in 1804, painted on ivory by Robert Home and Admiral Nelson (right) in 1805 painted by Lemuel F Abbott 8) Wellington has nothing to do with Beef Wellington Some think this classic British dish emerged from Wellington’s fondness for a beef fillet covered in foie gras pâté and mushrooms and cooked in pastry (the ham and mustard must have come in later). Some believe it was a PR stunt similar to the Americans renaming French Fries "Freedom Fries", with England appropriating a French classic during the Napoleonic Wars. Some even believe it was an American or Kiwi dish . In any case, there is no evidence of the dish being eaten during either the Duke’s lifetime or the rest of the 19th century. John Malkovich as the Duke of Wellington, telling somebody the 'recipe' for Beef Wellington 9) Wellington definitely did have something to do with Wellington Boots These were named after the multipurpose custom footwear Wellington wore during his campaigns .

Adapted from the standard-issue leather Hessian boot, they had a low heel and were lined with calfskin ro ease the strain after a long day of battle, and could be translated into a fashionable evening setting. Beau Brummell, the infamous dandy mentioned above, also contributed to their popularisation, wearing his own version of the Hessian boot in drawing rooms before Wellington’s Victory at Waterloo made him a figure to emulate. In 1852, these boots started to be made from rubber rather than leather. The Duke of Wellington caricatured as a Wellington boot 10) Wellington wasn’t always popular back home Though respected, the Duke notoriously made an unsuccessful Prime Minister in later life. He hated attention and was embarrassed by public cheers; his plainness of speech was often mistaken for rudeness and he never addressed his troops en masse, thinking this “the stuff of players”. But then even while he was defeating Napoleon's generals one after the other during his Portuguese and Spanish campaigns, the British government were sceptical of his chances, refusing to send him reinforcements or supplies, and at one point calling him home to be court-martialled. The future George IV , then Prince Regent, had more admiration for Napoleon .

But this lead Wellington to be a more resourceful soldier and leader. In contrast, Napoleon was always spoilt for loyalty, troops and resources and often squandered the lot. 11) Wellington quit while he was ahead Having no thirst for blood or victory for the sake of it, Wellington would always retreat if that meant avoiding heavy casualties or defeat. Because of this, he never lost a battle, whereas more daring and relentless military leaders of the time such as Nelson and Napoleon either died fighting or lost wars. Having reached his peak after the victory at the Battle of Waterloo, Wellington retired from the battlefield aged 46. The Duke of Wellington painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence after the Battle of Waterloo Hotels In Minehead - The Duke of Wellington - J D Wetherspoon Not what you were looking for? Try our advanced search The Duke of Wellington *Please note: actual opening hours are subject to change. For confirmation, please contact the pub. Opening Times Find out More > Our History This has been a local landmark since 1820.

However, for the first 80 years, it was The Duke of Wellington Inn, named after Arthur Wellesley, who was created Duke of Wellington in 1814, for his part in defeating the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte (culminating in the Battle of Waterloo). This was a coaching inn and posting house, rebuilt in 1893. By the early 1900s, it was known simply as the Wellington Hotel, headquarters of the West Somerset Polo Club and convenient for staghound meetings. Facilities BBC - iWonder - The Duke of Wellington: Forging the 'Iron Duke' The Duke of Wellington: Forging the 'Iron Duke' 1769 Share this on Twitter The 'last great Englishman' The legacy of the Duke of Wellington towers over British history. The hero of Waterloo, vanquisher of Napoleon – poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson hailed him as the 'last great Englishman'. Statues still adorn the streets of many British towns and cities while his name has become synonymous with one of Britain's most celebrated victories. So how did Arthur Wellesley become the 'Iron Duke' we remember today?

1769 Universal History Archive/Getty Images Wellington spent much of his childhood at Dangan Castle, Ireland. The future Duke of Wellington was born Arthur Wesley (later changed to Wellesley) around 1 May, third surviving son in an aristocratic Irish family. His father, Garret, was the first earl of Mornington while his mother, Anne, was the eldest daughter of Arthur Hill, first Viscount Dungannon. An unhappy, lonely boy, Wellington exhibited few of the talents that would come to make his name. Lazy and socially awkward, his early schooling was fragmented, his performance uninspired. Only his violin playing showed any real promise. I vow to God I don't know what I shall do with my awkward son Arthur. Anne Wellesley, Countess of Mornington and Wellington's mother 1781 WAVE/Getty Images Eton College viewed from the river, painted in 1786. When Wellington was 12, his father died. That same year he started at Eton with his younger brother, Gerald. Anne, his mother, thought Wellington a slow, foolish child. His exploits at Eton did nothing to dispel that opinion.

Frequently unsociable and occasionally aggressive, with little appetite for learning, Wellington was removed from school in 1784. His father's death in 1781 had hit the family's financial standing and another of Wellington's younger brothers, Henry, looked to be a more promising scholar. Wellington followed his mother to Brussels in 1785. Jobs for the boys Print Collector/Getty Images As Wellington was making his way in the army, the French Revolution came to a head, including the storming of the Bastille in 1789. At his family's behest, a career in the military beckoned – few other suitable options existed for such an unpromising young aristocrat. Wellington studied fencing, horsemanship and maths, but remained typically uninterested. His brother’s wealth and influence secured him a number of commissions, first as junior officer in the 73rd Foot and then as aide-de-camp to the lord lieutenant of Ireland. As the French Revolution moved towards its climax, Wellington’s elevation continued, even taking a seat in the Irish parliament. By October 1792 he had held five commissions in six different regiments.

Revolution and focus DeAgostini/Getty Images The execution of Louis XVI challenged the established social order not just in France but throughout Europe. Events in France sent shockwaves through Europe. On 21 January King Louis XVI was executed at the guillotine. France had declared her egalitarian principles to be universal. The very fabric of established social order was under threat and by February Britain and France were at war. Wellington had to grow up quickly. He marked his new-found focus by setting aside 'frivolous' things like his violin. In April he joined the 33rd Foot, soon becoming the regiment's commanding officer. This was as far as his brother's influence could take him. He would now have to earn his promotions, on active service. Print Collector/Getty Images British troops attack the French during the Flanders Campaign. Wellington's opportunity came quickly. In 1794 the 33rd Foot was sent to the Netherlands and he fought the French for the first time. Though Wellington won plaudits for his role in the fighting, the Flanders Campaign as a whole was disastrous. By spring 1795 British forces had withdrawn, dejected and demoralised, and were evacuated from Hanover.

The French had won, replacing the Dutch Republic with a client state. Wellington's first experience of war had come with the taste of defeat. Few of his fellow officers, he saw, had known how to command an army. I learnt what one ought not to do; and that is always something! Wellington, on his early military experiences, speaking in 1839 1796-1805 Epics/Getty Images Wellington defeats Indian leader Dhoondiah Waughat the Battle of Conaghull in India. Bad weather spared Wellington a dangerous trip to the West Indies. Diversion to India, moreover, offered much greater career prospects. With him he brought several hundred books, including titles on military history. He was determined not to repeat the mistakes of other officers he had witnessed first-hand. After some early successes, Wellington was promoted to the rank of major general and in 1803 he claimed the first major victory of his career. Facing an enemy force much greater than the 7,000 at his disposal, he won a desperate battle at Assaye, a small village in western India. His name made, Wellington looked to home.

I understood as much of military matters as I have ever done since or do now. Duke of Wellington on the experience he gained in India, reflecting in 1838 1806 Kitty Mary Evans Picture Library Wellington hadn't seen Kitty for more than a decade when he proposed to her again on his return to England. Back in England, Wellington was now a wealthy man and growing further in status – he became MP for Rye in April. That same month, he married. Wellington first proposed to Kitty Pakenham in 1793 but, young and in debt, was rejected by her family. Though there had been little contact in the intervening decade, he proposed once more when he arrived back in England. When he met her again in November 1805, he harboured considerable doubts. She was not the woman he had met all that time before. Nonetheless, perhaps out of duty, he married her and the couple had two sons. The relationship was not a happy one. '40,000 Frenchmen in 40 minutes' Print Collector/Getty Images British forces under Wellington's command routed the French at the Battle of Salamanca.

Wellington had been in overall command of British forces in the Iberian Peninsula since 1809. In January 1812 he led troops from Portugal into Spain. Early victories saw Wellington reach Salamanca in June but by July he was locked in stalemate with an evenly matched French force. On 22 July, his opportunity finally came. Over lunch an aide delivered the message Wellington had been waiting for: the French had over-extended. A quick glance through his telescope was enough. "Marmont", the French general, he said excitedly, "is lost". In under an hour, his forces won a decisive victory and all Europe acknowledged Wellington’s military genius. By God! That will do! Reported exclamation of the Duke of Wellington on seeing the gap in the French lines at Salamanca 1814 Peterloo Culture Club/Getty Images Many were killed and hundreds injured when cavalry charged the protesters at St Peter's Fields in Manchester. Serving under Lord Liverpool, Wellington joined the Cabinet. Politics, he discovered, was every bit as fierce a battleground as those he had left. Liverpool's government was known for repressive policies.

Legislation was passed to keep public order and take action against vagrants, including many discharged from war service after Waterloo. Crowds gathered in St Peter's Fields in Manchester on 19 August to demand parliamentary reform were charged by troops. Hundreds were injured and many killed. The refusal of Wellington and the political classes to countenance social and political reform put them out of step with the public. An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them. Duke of Wellington, after his first Cabinet meeting as prime minister, 1828 1829 Pistols at dawn Culture Club/Getty Images The Duke of the Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea duelled on Battersea Fields in March 1829. If Wellington thought MPs could be ordered into unity he quickly discovered he was mistaken. One of the most divisive issues of the day centred on Catholic emancipation. Catholics had been barred from holding public office since the 17th Century but by 1829 these restrictions threatened civil strife. Some Tories, who had championed Wellington's appointment, were aghast at his support for the Roman Catholic Relief Act.

One, the Earl of Winchilsea, was particularly vitriolic in his criticism and on 23 March the duke and the earl fought a duel on Battersea Fields. Both survived. Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images Wellington was almost 90 years old when he eventually retired from public life. Wellington had remained active in government, as foreign secretary and, latterly, a minister without portfolio. Approaching his ninth decade, Wellington finally retired from public life in 1846. Even then he retained his post as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, unable to step away completely from the public service to which he had devoted his life – servant of crown and country to the last. 1852 Death and state funeral Universal History Archive/Getty Images In death, the image of Wellington that people remembered was that of the war hero and conqueror of Napoleon. On 14 September Wellington succumbed to a stroke at his favourite home, Walmer Castle, in Kent. In death the duke's divisive political legacy was forgotten. Wellington was the hero of Waterloo once more. On 18 November, Britain said goodbye to a hero of a bygone age.

The nation united in a display of grief more extravagant than anything seen before. More than 1.5 million lined the streets to pay their respects as Wellington's coffin was borne to St Paul's, where a further 10,000 dignitaries packed into the cathedral. Wellington may have been gone, but his reputation lived on. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Are you a RAPper or a RAPscallion?

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, “The Iron Duke”, “The Beau”, “The Peer”, “Beau Douro” “and “Beaky“ Born 05/01/1769 Dublin, Ireland Died 09/14/1852 Walmer Castle, Kent Major Acts: Roman Catholic Relief Act-removed many of the restrictions on Catholics in the UK First Ministry First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords The Duke of Wellington January 1828 – November 1830 Lord Chancellor The Lord Lyndhust January 1828 – November 1830 Lord President of the Council The Earl Bathurst January 1828 – November 1830 Lord Privy Seal The Lord Ellenborough January 1828 – June 1829 The Earl of Rosslyn June1829 - November 1830 Chancellor of the Exchequer Henry Goulburn January 1828 – November 1830 Home Secretary Leader of the House of Commons Robert Peel January 1828 – November 1830 Foreign Secretary The Earl of Dudley January 1828

 – June 1828 The Earl of Aberdeen June 1828 – November 1830 Secretary of State for War and the Colonies William Huskisson January 1828 – May 1828 Sir George Murray May 1828 – November 18 First Lord of the Admiralty The Viscount Melville September 1828 – November 1830 Master-General of the Ordnance Marquess of Anglesey January 1828 – April 1828 The Viscount Beresford April 1828 – November 1830 President of the Board of Trade Charles Grant January 1828 – June 1828 William Vesey-Fitzgerald June 1828 – February 1830 John Charles Herries February 1830 – November 1830 President of the Board of Control Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn January 1828 – July 1828 The Viscount Melville July 1828 – September 1828 The Lord Ellenborough September 1828 – November 1830 Master of the Mint John Charles

 Herries January 1828 – November 1830 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Earl of Aberdeen January 1828 – June 1828 Charles Arbuthnot June 1828 – November 1830 First Commissioner of Woods and Forests Charles Arbuthnot February 1828 – June 1828 Viscount Lowther June 1828 – November 1830 Paymaster of the Forces William Vesey-Fitzgerald January 1828 – July 1828 John Calcraft July 1828 – November 1830 Secretary at War Viscount Palmerston January 1828 – May 1828 Sir Henry Hardinge May 1828 – July 1830 Lord Francis Leveson-Gower July 1830 – November 1830 Second Ministry Secretary of State for the Home Department Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Leader of the House of Lords The Duke of Wellington 17 November 1834 – 9 December 1834 Chancellor of the Exchequer The Lord Denman

 15 November 1834-9 December Lord Chancellor The Lord Lyndhurst 21 November 1834-9 December Lords Commissioners of the Treasury The Duke of Wellington The Earl of Rosslyn The Lord Ellenborough 21 November 1834-9 December Lord Maryborough Sir John Beckett Joseph Planta A colonel by 1796, Wellesley saw action in the Netherlands and later in India, where he fought in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War at the Battle of Seringapatam.

He was appointed governor of Seringapatam and Mysore in 1799, and as a newly appointed major-general won a decisive victory over the Maratha Confederacy at the Battle of Assaye in 1803. Wellesley rose to prominence as a general during the Peninsular campaign of the Napoleonic Wars, and was promoted to the rank of field marshal after leading the allied forces to victory against the French at the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. Following Napoleon's exile in 1814, he served as the ambassador to France and was granted a dukedom. During the Hundred Days in 1815, he commanded the allied army which, together with a Prussian army under Blücher, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Wellesley's battle record is exemplary, ultimately participating in some 60 battles throughout his military career. He was twice prime minister under the Tory party and oversaw the passage of the Catholic Relief Act 1829. He was prime minister from 1828–30 and served briefly in 1834.

He was unable to prevent the passage of the Reform Act 1832 and continued as one of the leading figures in the House of Lords until his retirement. He remained Commander-in-Chief of the British Army until his death. Wellington is thus famous for two careers. His command of British forces in the Peninsula and defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo as well as his service as Prime Minister, twice. The second time though was as a caretaker and lasted less than a month. His career as Prime Minister truly ended when he did not read the winds of change and did not go to the funeral of Huskisson. When Wellington attended the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway , knowing that this signified the change of the world, he did not follow up with what was the political change. Here, since to do justice to Welling would take talking about all of his career, we will focus on his role as a politician and Prime Minister. A British soldier and statesman, a native of Ireland, from the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century. He is often referred to as "the Duke of Wellington", even after his death, when there have been subsequent Dukes of Wellington.

Wellesley was commissioned as an ensign in the British Army in 1787. Serving in Ireland as aide-de-camp to two successive Lords Lieutenant of Ireland he was also elected as a Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons. Catherine Sarah Dorothea “Kitty” Pakenham, the sister of one of his generals, Edward Pakenham. who died leading such famous units as the 95th Rifles (Sharp!) and 93rd Highlanders at the Battle of New Orleans in the American war of 1812 which was over by the time the battle had been fought in 1815, but because of communications then, they had not gotten the word. Wellesley and Kitty might have been hot and heavy at first, but he was turned away when he did not have any prospects and she found another to love. Who, when he found that Wellesley was still interested bowed out. When Kitty and Wellesley did marry, their marriage was not one of love on his side. Though, Kitty did love the Duke.

She died in 1831 Political career Wellington entered politics again, when he was appointed Master-General of the Ordnance in the Tory government of Lord Liverpool on 26 December 1818. He also became Governor of Plymouth on 9 October 1819. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on 22 January 1827 and Constable of the Tower of London on 5 February 1827. Along with Robert Peel, Wellington became an increasingly influential member of the Tory party, and in 1828 he resigned as Commander-in-Chief and became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Wellington was the first Irish-born person to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Wellington is erroneously reputed to have responded to comments regarding his Irish birth by stating that "being born in a stable does not make one a horse". This was in fact a quote made about him by Irish Nationalist politician Daniel O'Connell. During his first seven months as prime minister he chose not to live in the official residence at 10 Downing Street, finding it too small. He moved in only because his own home, Apsley House, required extensive renovations.

During this time he was largely instrumental in the foundation of King's College London. On 20 January 1829 Wellington was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. As prime minister, Wellington was conservative, fearing the anarchy of the French Revolution would spread to England. The highlight of his term was Catholic Emancipation; the granting of almost full civil rights to Catholics in the United Kingdom. The change was forced by the landslide by-election win of Daniel O'Connell, an Irish Catholic proponent of emancipation, who was elected despite not being legally allowed to sit in Parliament. The Earl of Winchilsea accused the Duke of, "an insidious design for the infringement of our liberties and the introduction of Popery into every department of the State". Wellington responded by immediately challenging Winchilsea to a duel. On 21 March 1829, Wellington and Winchilsea met on Battersea fields. When it came time to fire, the Duke took aim and Winchilsea kept his arm down. The Duke fired wide to the right.

Accounts differ as to whether he missed on purpose; Wellington, noted for his poor aim, claimed he did, other reports more sympathetic to Winchilsea claimed he had aimed to kill. Winchilsea did not fire, a plan he and his second almost certainly decided upon before the duel. Honour was saved and Winchilsea wrote Wellington an apology. Catholic Emancipation In the House of Lords, facing stiff opposition, Wellington spoke for Catholic Emancipation, giving one of the best speeches of his career. He was Irish, and later governed the country, so had some understanding of the grievances of the Catholic communities there. The Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed with a majority of 105. Many Tories voted against the Act, and it passed only with the help of the Whigs. Wellington had threatened to resign as Prime Minister if the King (George IV) did not give his Royal Assent. The nickname "Iron Duke" originates from this period, when he experienced a high degree of personal and political unpopularity. Its repeated use in Freeman's Journal throughout June 1830 appears to bear reference to his resolute political will, with taints of disapproval from its Irish editors.

His residence at Apsley House was targeted by a mob of demonstrators on 27 April 1831 and again on 12 October, leaving his windows smashed. Iron shutters were installed in June 1832 to prevent further damage by crowds angry over rejection of the Reform Bill, which he strongly opposed. Wellington's government fell in 1830. In the summer and autumn of that year, a wave of riots swept the country. The Whigs had been out of power for most years since the 1770s, and saw political reform in response to the unrest as the key to their return. Wellington stuck to the Tory policy of no reform and no expansion of suffrage, and as a result lost a vote of no confidence on 15 November 1830. The Reform Act The Whigs introduced the first Reform Bill whilst Wellington and the Tories worked to prevent its passage. The bill passed in the British House of Commons, but was defeated in the House of Lords. An election followed in direct response, and the Whigs were returned with an even larger majority. A second Reform Act was introduced, and defeated in the same way, and another wave of near insurrection swept the country.

During this time, Wellington was greeted by a hostile reaction from the crowds at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The Whig Government fell in 1832 and Wellington was unable to form a Tory Government partly because of a run on the Bank of England. This left King William IV no choice but to restore Earl Grey to the premiership. Eventually the bill passed the House of Lords after the King threatened to fill that House with newly created Whig peers if it were not. Wellington was never reconciled to the change; when Parliament first met after the first election under the widened franchise, Wellington is reported to have said "I never saw so many shocking bad hats in my life". Jewish Emancipation During debate on the Jewish Civil Disabilities Repeal Bill, Wellington, who opposed the Bill, stated in Parliament on 1 August 1833: "... this is a Christian country and a Christian legislature, and that the effect of this measure would be to remove that peculiar character." And "I see no ground whatever for passing the Bill; and shall, therefore, vote against it." The Bill was defeated, 104 votes against, and 54 for.

Conservative Government Wellington was gradually superseded as leader of the Tories by Robert Peel, whilst the party evolved into the Conservatives. When the Tories were returned to power in 1834, Wellington declined to become Prime Minister and Peel was selected instead. However, Peel was in Italy at that time and for three weeks in November and December 1834, Wellington acted as interim leader, taking the responsibilities of Prime Minister and most of the other ministries. In Peel's first cabinet (1834–1835), Wellington became Foreign Secretary, while in the second (1841–1846) he was a Minister without Portfolio and Leader of the House of Lords. Wellington was also re-appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on 15 August 1842 following the resignation of Lord Hill. Retirement Wellington retired from political life in 1846, although he remained Commander-in-Chief, and returned briefly to the spotlight in 1848 when he helped organise a military force to protect London during that year of European revolution.

The Conservative Party had split over the Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, with Wellington and most of the former Cabinet still supporting Robert Peel, but most of the MPs led by Lord Derby supporting a protectionist stance. Early in 1852 Wellington, by then very deaf, gave Derby's first government its nickname by shouting "Who? Who?" as the list of inexperienced Cabinet Ministers was read out in the House of Lords. He became Chief Ranger and Keeper of Hyde Park and St. James's Park on 31 August 1850. He was also colonel of the 33rd Regiment of Foot from 1 February 1806 and colonel of the Grenadier Guards from 22 January 1827. Death and funeral Wellington died on 14 September 1852, aged 83, of the after effects of a stroke culminating in a series of epileptic seizures.

Although in life he hated travelling by rail (after witnessing the death of William Huskisson, one of the first railway accident casualties), his body was then taken by train to London, where he was given a state funeral—one of only a handful of British subjects to be honoured in that way (other examples are Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill)—and the last heraldic state funeral to be held in Britain. The funeral took place on 18 November 1852. At his funeral there was hardly any space to stand because of the number of people attending, and the effusive praise given him in Tennyson's "Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington" attests to his stature at the time of his death. He was buried in a sarcophagus of luxulyanite in St Paul's Cathedral next to Lord Nelson. Wellington's casket was decorated with banners which were made for his funeral procession. Originally, there was one for Prussia, which was removed during World War I and never reinstated. Most of the book 'A Biographical Sketch of the Military and Political Career of the Late Duke of Wellington' by Weymouth newspaper proprietor Joseph Drew is a detailed contemporary account of his death, lying in state and funeral.

After his death Irish and English newspapers disputed whether Wellington had been born an Irishman or Englishman. During his life he had openly disliked being referred to as an "Irishman". Owing to its links with Wellington, as the former commanding officer and colonel of the regiment, the title "33rd (The Duke of Wellington's) Regiment" was granted to the 33rd Regiment of Foot, on 18 June 1853 (the 38th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo) by Queen Victoria Prime Minister Date Takes Office Date Leaves Office BBC - History - British History in depth: The Duke of Wellington: Soldiering to Glory Print this page Early life Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), was probably Britain's greatest military commander, but he was also perhaps one of her worst prime ministers. Fortunately his premiership was only short-lived, and its failings were more than made up for by the splendour of his wartime career. At a time of peril, when his country most desperately needed victories, this great soldier never lost a battle. Wellesley was born in Dublin, the fourth son of the 1st Earl of Mornington.

He always denied being Irish, however, saying that being born in a barn does not make someone a horse. He felt he was not truly Irish because he hailed from the Anglo-Irish aristocratic 'Protestant Ascendancy' that ruled Ireland until the partition of 1922. ...his mother decried the idea of a military career for him, believing him to have no aptitude for soldiering... He was educated first at Eton, where he learned little except perhaps how to use his fists, and then - probably due to lack of funds because of his father's early death - at school in Brussels. He entered the French military academy at Angers, in Anjou, in 1786. Although his mother decried the idea of a military career for him, believing him to have no aptitude for soldiering, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in an infantry regiment in 1787 and became a captain of dragoons five years later. In the meantime he was elected to a seat in the Irish parliament, but took as little interest in politics as he initially did in soldiering, preferring to idle his life away socialising and playing the violin.

Indeed, he might have spent his entire life as a wallflower attending the picnics of the Irish Lord-Lieutenant as an aide-de-camp, had not the French executed King Louis XVI in 1793, prompting Wellesley suddenly to take his life and career seriously. He burned his violin in his fireplace, and became a lieutenant colonel of the 33rd Foot Regiment, in which capacity he saw his first action at Boxtel in the Netherlands campaign in 1794, and then fought again at Geldermalsen the following year. Top Winning victories An oil painting of the storming of Srirangapatna by Sir Robert Ker Porter, 1800. © The campaign was short-lived and disastrous, though no blame attached to Wellesley, who performed well. The incompetence of the British officers in command, however, prompted him to take up a still closer study of the military arts. When his elder brother Richard became the new Governor-General of India in 1797, Wellesley took the 33rd Foot out there and founded a great reputation for himself as a brilliant but also painstaking commander.

His victories in Mysore, at Srirangapatna and over Dhoondiah Waugh won him promotion to major-general. ...Wellesley...founded a great reputation for himself as a brilliant but also painstaking commander. In the Mahratta Wars, in September 1803, Wellesley won the famous victory of Assaye. Subsequently he considered this to be the finest of all the 60 battles he fought in his military career. He was knighted the following year and in 1805 he returned home, stopping off on the way on the remote island of St Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1806, after having commanded thousands of men and subdued hostile sub-continents, he was given the command of a lowly battalion in Hastings. He was elected MP for Hastings in the same year. An oil painting of the storming of Srirangapatna, by Sir Robert Ker Porter, 1800. One of the regiments was commanded by Wellesley © This time he took politics more seriously, and became Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1807, largely as the result of the influence of his ambitious family, who were prominent Tory politicians.

He also found time to take part in the Copenhagen campaign, which was short-lived, though not quite so disastrous as earlier British incursions to Napoleon's Europe. Top Opportunity for glory He told a friend that he would not be chased off the continent as so many other similar forces had been... In 1808, by then a lieutenant-general, Wellesley was at last given an opportunity for genuine glory, when he was - albeit briefly - given command of the British expeditionary force destined for Portugal. He told a friend that he would not be chased off the continent as so many other similar forces had been, because he had made a study of French tactics, and would not be at any kind of psychological disadvantage in relation to the enemy. 'They may overwhelm me but I don't think they will outmanoeuvre me', he said. 'First, because I am not afraid of them, as everybody else seems to be; and secondly, because if what I hear of their system of manoeuvre is true, I think it a false one against steady troops.

I suspect that all the continental armies were more than half beaten before the battle was begun - I, at least, will not be frightened beforehand.' It was a brave boast, but fully justified by subsequent events. The Iberian Peninsular campaign started off well after victories at Rolica and Vimeiro. Soon afterwards, however, Wellesley was superseded in command by two generals, Sir Harry Burrard and Sir Hew Dalrymple, who signed an armistice with the French that allowed the defeated enemy safe passage home, with all their arms and booty and even transportation in Royal Navy vessels. Back in Britain there was outrage at the terms of what was called the Convention of Cintra, and an 'inquiry' (which was effectively a court-martial) was heard in the Great Hall of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea. After several weeks, Wellesley was finally acquitted. Soon after the Cintra inquiry closed, Wellesley returned to the Peninsula, once again in command. In one of history's great coincidences, however, the time he had spent in England had coincided with the two months that Napoleon had campaigned in Spain.

So the two men missed confronting one another, and only came face to face for the first and last time at the battle of Waterloo six years later. The leadership Wellesley showed in the Peninsular campaign was exemplary... Having resumed command in Portugal in 1809, Wellesley - aided at all times by the Portuguese army and the Spanish guerrillas - spent the next five years trying to expel the French from the Peninsula. He took not one day's leave as he campaigned backwards and forwards across Portugal and Spain, occasionally being forced to retreat because of the pressure of numbers opposing him, but never losing a battle or even so much as a single cannon. He was almost always outnumbered by the huge French forces that were occupying Spain in the name of Napoleon's brother, King Joseph of Spain. The leadership Wellesley showed in the Peninsular campaign was exemplary; he won a reputation for expecting the best from his men, and for being a harsh disciplinarian when he did not get it. Yet his troops also knew he never risked their lives unnecessarily.

Top Battle of Waterloo A painting of the Battle of Waterloo by M Dubourg © Wellesley - who by now had been created Duke of Wellington - had crossed the Pyrenees into France before Napoleon abdicated for the first time in 1814, and after this he became British Ambassador in Paris. He was then appointed British plenipotentiary to the Congress of Vienna. He was in Vienna when, in March 1815, the news arrived that the ex-Emperor Napoleon had escaped from exile on the island of Elba. Pausing only to declare Napoleon an international outlaw, Wellington went to take up command of the Anglo-Allied army in Brussels. This was made up of an ungainly mix of units of British, Dutch, Belgian and some German soldiers, a large proportion of whom were raw recruits. It was far removed from the seasoned army Wellington had moulded into a crack fighting unit in Spain and Portugal. In June 1815 Napoleon suddenly marched north into present-day Belgium, making for Brussels. On 16th June he simultaneously attacked the Anglo-Allied army at Quatre Bras and the Prussian army under Field Marshal Prince von Blucher at Ligny, routing the latter.

Wellington was forced to retreat to the easily defended slopes of Mont St-Jean, three miles south of his headquarters at Waterloo. Only three-and-a-half miles wide, the battlefield was protected by woods and villages on the flanks, and by two well-defended farms - Hougomont and La Haie Sainte - in the centre. ...The Duke was everywhere on the battlefield... The French attacked before noon on Sunday 18th June, but after repeated assaults they failed to break Wellington's line. The Duke was everywhere on the battlefield, encouraging his men and giving orders about how best to repulse the French attacks. He later described the battle as 'a close run thing'. By the afternoon, Prussian corps that had survived the Battle of Ligny - and that unbeknown to Napoleon had marched northwards rather than eastwards back towards Prussia - began appearing on Wellington's left flank. Napoleon was forced to draw off many of the troops he had hoped to employ against Wellington, in order to deal with them. By 7pm, after his famed Imperial Guard had also failed to break Wellington's line, Napoleon was routed.

A month later he had abdicated for the second time and surrendered to the British, who exiled him to the remote island of St Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. Top Covered in honours Wellington was covered in honours by Britain and by all the European powers, but instead of retiring he entered the British Cabinet in 1818, staying there as Master-General of Ordinance until 1827. The following year he became prime minister and in 1829, despite being a reactionary Tory, and against his private inclinations, he helped pass the Catholic Relief Act, with the aid of Sir Robert Peel. He resigned in 1830 when it became clear that he could not prevent parliamentary reform from being enacted. ...nothing can detract from the untarnished glory he earned as the conqueror of Napoleon. As commander-in-chief of the British Army between 1827 and 1828, and from 1842 until his death in 1852, Wellington was a force for conservatism, and it has been argued that the lack of army reform under his leadership led to the British army being ill-prepared for the Crimean War.

But even if his political and administrative career was distinctly less impressive than his military and diplomatic achievements, nothing can detract from the untarnished glory he earned as the conqueror of Napoleon. Along with the 1st Duke of Marlborough, he stands as one of the finest two soldiers Britain has ever produced. Wellington: a personal history by Christopher Hibbert (HarperCollins, 1998) Wellington by Richard Holmes (HarperCollins, 2002) Napoleon and Wellington by Andrew Roberts (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2001) Wellington by Elizabeth Longford (Abacus, 2001) Places to visit Apsley House Home of the first Duke of Wellington and the London home of the Dukes of Wellington ever since. The house is open to the public all year. [The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.] Top About the author Andrew Roberts is author of The Holy Fox, Eminent Churchillians, Salisbury: Victorian Titan and Napoleon and Wellington. He also appears regularly on British television and radio, and writes for The Sunday Telegraph.

Duke of Wellington dies, aged 99 - Telegraph UK News Duke of Wellington dies, aged 99 The Duke of Wellington has died aged 99, a day before the bicentenary year of the Battle of Waterloo The 8th Duke of Wellington Photo: Eric Roberts By Gordon Rayner , Chief Reporter 1:21PM GMT 31 Dec 2014 Follow The 8th Duke of Wellington, whose ancestor won the Battle of Waterloo, has died at the age of 99. Arthur Valerian Wellesley, who was also known as the Prince of Waterloo, died peacefully today at his home on the Stratfield Saye Estate in Hampshire, surrounded by his family. He was the great-great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Wellington, the "Iron Duke", who twice served as prime minister following his victory at Waterloo. The 8th Duke's death comes just four months before the 200th anniversary of the defeat of Napoleon in what was then the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and is now Belgium.

The Duke, a retired brigadier, also held the title of 9th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo of the Kingdom of Spain, but relinquished that title in 2010 in favour of his eldest child, Charles Wellesley, Marquess of Douro, who now becomes the 9th Duke of Wellington. Lord Douro said of his father: "He had a good life and a long life and we are just sorry that he didn't survive until the moment of the bicentenary and his 100th birthday, which would have fallen on July 2. It was very sad for him that he didn't survive that long." Educated at Eton and New College, Oxford, the 8th Duke served with the Royal Horse Guards in the Second World War, when he was decorated with the Military Cross for gallantry. He also served in Cyprus in 1957, and finished his career with a posting to Spain as defence attache. His honorary appointments included the post of Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Yorkshire Regiment, Deputy Colonel of the Blues and Royals.

He was a member of the Order of the Garter and attended the annual investiture ceremony in June with the Queen and other members of the Royal family. His death leaves a vacancy in the Order, which has a maximum of 24 knights, in addition to the Queen and Royal knights. Buckingham Palace said the Queen had been informed of his death. A spokesman for the Duke said a private funeral for family and the estate will be held at Stratfield Saye Church on Thursday January 8. The date of a memorial service to be held in London will be announced shortly, he said.

Question: What was the first name of the Duke of Wellington?
Answer: Arthur