Wellington, Duke of (1769-1852), was a British soldier and statesman who was known as The Iron Duke. He became famous as the general who overcame the armies of the French Emperor Napoleon I in Spain and Portugal and helped defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Later, Wellington became a leader of the Tory Party and served as prime minister.
Young soldier.
Wellington was born Arthur Wellesley on May 1, 1769, in Dublin, Ireland. He was educated at Eton College and at a military college in France. At 18, he entered the army. Wellesley rose rapidly and by 1796 reached the rank of colonel. He first saw combat in 1794 in Flanders. In 1796, his regiment was sent to India, where his brother Richard, second Earl of Mornington, was governor general. Due to Richard’s political influence, Wellesley became a major general before he was 35. In 1803, Wellesley received command of the British forces in the Maratha War. Wellesley soon defeated the Maratha chiefs and firmly established British power in India.
Peninsular War.
In 1805, Wellesley returned to Britain. He was elected the next year to Parliament. Two years later, he was appointed chief secretary of Ireland. While there, he worked for new laws that would establish fair rents for tenants. He also laid the foundation for organization of the Irish police.
In 1808, Spain revolted against Napoleon, and the British sent troops there to help the Spanish. Wellesley was promoted to lieutenant general and took command of one of the British divisions fighting in the peninsula of Spain and Portugal. At first, many people believed Wellesley was put in command for political reasons. But he soon showed his military skill. Three weeks after landing in Portugal, he defeated the French in the Battle of Vimeiro and forced them to leave Portugal.
In 1809, Wellesley took command of all British forces in the Peninsular War. He fought many battles with the help of Spanish forces and a Portuguese army that was organized by Britain. His small army won many victories. Slowly, he drove the French forces from the peninsula. In April 1814, he won the Battle of Toulouse in France. But before he could penetrate farther into France, Napoleon gave up his throne and the fighting ended. Wellesley returned to Britain in triumph and was given the title of Duke of Wellington.
Victory at Waterloo.
In July 1814, Wellington was appointed ambassador to France. The next year, he represented Britain at the Congress of Vienna, though the Congress had completed most of its work before he arrived (see Vienna, Congress of). He was at Vienna when the Congress heard that Napoleon had formed another army. Wellington signed the declaration naming Napoleon “the enemy and disturber of the peace of the world,” and commanded the allied forces in the Netherlands. At the Battle of Waterloo, he fought Napoleon himself for the first time. In this battle, Wellington’s troops and Prince Gebhard von Blucher’s Prussian army crushed Napoleon’s forces (see Blucher, Gebhard L. von). After that, Wellington commanded the army that occupied France for a short time. See Waterloo, Battle of.
Political career.
In 1818, Wellington returned to Britain and held various government and diplomatic posts. He became commander in chief of the army in 1827, but resigned in 1828 to become prime minister.
Wellington belonged to the Tory Party, but he angered many in his party by pushing through the Catholic Emancipation Act. This act allowed Roman Catholics to hold seats in Parliament and most other government offices. The British demanded parliamentary reform, and Wellington’s opposition to a reform bill made his government unpopular. In 1830, he was forced to resign.
In late 1834, Wellington briefly served as prime minister following the resignation of Viscount Melbourne. He then served as foreign secretary during Sir Robert Peel’s short-lived administration of 1834-35. Seven years later, he became a member of Peel’s second government and again served as commander in chief of the army. He retired in 1846. His opposition to reform made him unpopular at times. But by the time of his death on Sept. 14, 1852, he had become the father figure of Britain and was known simply as “the Duke.” He is one of Britain’s most famous national heroes.
