The Duke of Wellington

Full title:

Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

Dates:

1769-1852

Claim to fame:

A harsh disciplinarian, he was respected rather than loved. His many victories in India and Spain made his name and he finally defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

Nickname:

"Old Nosey" (due to his large nose)

Born into an aristocratic Anglo-Irish family, Wellesley (1769-1852) was commissioned in 1787. He eventually purchased a lieutenant-colonelcy in the 33rd Regiment and joined the Flanders expedition (1794), where he learnt valuable lessons on leadership, organisation and tactics. In 1796 he sailed for India as a colonel. Appointed chief advisor to the Nizam of Hyderabad's army, Wellesley then led the 33rd at Malavelly and Seringapatam in 1799.

Promoted to major-general in 1802, during the Maratha War he was victorious at Assaye (1803), later regarding it as the best battle he fought. He then won victories at Argaum and Gawlighur. Although derided as a ‘sepoy general’ by Napoleon, Wellesley learnt much in India, including the need for discipline, diplomacy with allies, intelligence gathering, manoeuvring, secure supply lines and naval support. All proved vital in his Peninsular campaigns.

Wellesley returned home, was knighted and continued his political career before serving at Copenhagen (1807). In 1808 he was made lieutenant-general and sent to Portugal, defeating the French at Roliça and Vimeiro. During the latter engagement he checked the French columns with the reverse slope defence, a tactic that became a trademark. Following the Convention of Cintra (1809), he was recalled to Britain, but after being cleared by a court of enquiry, returned, securing Oporto and clearing the French from Portugal. He then pursued the enemy into Spain, winning a narrow victory at Talavera (1809).

Wellesley was raised to the peerage, but following the arrival of French reinforcements he fell back into Portugal. In 1810 they invaded, but Wellington slowed them down at Buçaco before halting them at the Lines of Torres Vedras. The French withdrew in March 1811. Wellington then moved on Almeida, defeating the French at Fuentes de Onoro in May. In January 1812 he took Ciudad Rodrigo, which brought him an earldom, and assaulted Badajoz in April. In July he won a brilliant victory at Salamanca, which established his reputation as an offensive general. However, his failure to take Burgos (September-October 1812) led to retreat back to Portugal.

Advancing into Spain in May 1813, he destroyed Joseph Bonaparte’s army at Vitoria, personally leading one of the columns against the French centre. The victory brought him a field marshal’s baton and was followed by the capture of San Sebastian and the advance into France. When Napoleon abdicated in 1814, he returned home a hero and was created duke. He attended the Congress of Vienna, but in 1815 Napoleon returned. Wellington became commander of the allied armies. A tactical draw at Quatre Bras (16 June 1815) followed, but with Prussian help he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo two days later.

Following the occupation, Wellington became Master General of the Ordnance and then Prime Minister (1828-30 and 1834). Although he oversaw Catholic Emancipation (1829), he courted unpopularity by opposing the 1832 Reform Act. Wellington was Commander-in-Chief from 1842, but proved a block to military reform. A tireless worker with a ruthless streak, he forged his armies through discipline and training. Although aloof and personally chilly, Wellington was not immune to soldiers’ suffering, on one occasion crying at the carnage in Badajoz.

Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, c1820. Oil on canvas by Peter Edward Stroehling (1768-1826).

NAM 1965-01-1

"The Duke of Wellington had exhausted nature and exhausted glory. His career was one un-clouded longest day."

'The Times’’ obituary for Wellington, 1852.