Early Life and Military Life

Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, was a general of England, a Prime Minister, and he defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo. He was the fourth child of six children produced by Garrett Wesley and Anne Hill. Eventually Arthur was known as "The Iron Duke". The Duke was from Anglo-Irish background as Arthur constantly met and communicated with his family and allies. The Duke of Wellington attended Diocesan School which was located in County Meath. Throughout seventeen eighty-one and seventeen eighty-four he was enrolled in Etonian and was taught by Henry Michell. After seventeen eighty-five it became apparent that he was not that interested in education and was socially awkward. His parents then sent him too the military in which he was assigned to the seventy-third regiment of foot during may of seventeen eighty-seven. By December he was already promoted to a Lieutenant in the seventy-sixth foot and was soon transferred to the forty-first foot. When he arrived at Dublin he was an aide of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland until the march of seventeen ninety-three. The Duke of Wellington was elected to the Irish Parliament during the April if seventeen ninety as a member of parliament. Arthur moved up through the ranks of the military fast as he was a kernel by the age of twenty seven. During seventeen ninety-four and seventeen ninety-five he was posted at the Netherlands during the beginning French War. He then fought in India where he became a Governor-General of India during seventeen ninety-nine. In 1803 he became a Major-General who fought in the Mahratta War. Because he was successful in two of his campaigns he became a Knight of the Bath. In 1806 Arthur was appointed as a Colonel of the thirty-third regiment of foot. On the tenth of April in 1806 he married Catherine Pakenham. Lord Longford (Catherine’s father) would not allow the marriage between them because of the fact Arthur was in debt. Although he was in debt because he promised to marry Catherine, he married Catherine. Wellington led an expedition on Iberia during the first of August. At the Battle of Rolico the British defeated the French. During the Convention of Cintra, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Bird advocated for it to be signed. The Convention was more favorable to the French so when it was signed Arthur was blamed. In eighteen twelve Arthur became the Earl of Wellington due to Spencer Perceval’s request. After eight months he became a Marquisate and during eighteen fourteen he received the title of being a Duke. In eighteen fifteen Arthur was in charge of leading the British army to defeat the French.  He was one of the key reasons of Napoleon’s fall at The Battle of Leipzig and the Waterloo. After the battle of Waterloo he became a commander-in-chief of the army. However soon after he obtained this title he became a politician and did not resume his military career. In April of eighteen twenty-seven he resigned as the commander-in-chief of the army.