Wellesley (Wesley), Arthur , Duke of Wellington. Born 1769. Educated at Eton and the Military Academy of Angers, and entered the army in 1787. As lieutenant-colonel, he served in Holland in 1794, and in 1796 was sent to India. In 1799, under General Harris, he stormed Seringapatam, defeated the Mahrattas at Assaye in 1803, and returned home two years later. After sitting in parliament for two years (being Irish secretary in 1807), and serving at Copenhagen, he was sent to Portugal in 1808. Having won the victories of Rolica and Vimeiro, he was superseded, but in 1809 was again in the Peninsula. He was made a peer for the victory of Talavera, and won the Battle of Busaco in 1810, after which he constructed the lines of Torres Vedras. This was followed by Fuentes d'Onoro (1811), the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz (1812), and the victory of Salamanca in the same year. He was now created marquis, and after the Battle of Vitoria, drove the French across the Pyrenees. After being made field marshal and duke, he attended the congress of Vienna, which he left to meet Napoleon at Waterloo. In 1827, he became commander-in-chief, and in 1828 was for the first time premier. After yielding on the Catholic question, he resigned in 1830 on that of Reform, incurring great unpopularity. In 1834, he again held office, but resigned next year, and in 1841 joined the cabinet of Sir R. Peel. He attended the House of Lords to the last, and received a state funeral at St. Paul's Cathedral. Wellington died in 1852.

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