Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of
Wellington 1769-1852. British soldier and
Tory politician. As commander in the
Peninsular War, he expelled the French from
Spain in 1814. He defeated Napoleon Bonaparte
at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo in 1815, and was
a member of the Congress of Vienna. As prime
minister 1828-30, he was forced to concede
Roman Catholic emancipation. Wellington was
born in Ireland, the son of an Irish peer,
and sat for a time in the Irish parliament.
He was knighted for his army service in India
and became a national hero with his victories
of 1808-14 in the Peninsular War and as
general of the allies against Napoleon. At
the Congress of Vienna he opposed the
dismemberment of France and supported
restoration of the Bourbons. As prime
minister he modified the Corn Laws but became
unpopular for his opposition to parliamentary
reform and his lack of opposition to Catholic
emancipation. He was foreign secretary
1834-35 and a member of the cabinet 1841-46.
He held the office of commander in chief of
the forces at various times from 1827 and for
life from 1842. His home was Apsley House in
London.