Arthur Wellesley de Wellington

Origin

Arthur Wellesley, is the third wire of Garret Wesley, 1 {{er}} count de Mornington. It is thought that it was born either with Dublin, or on the family grounds in the county of Meath in Ireland. Its birth date is not known with precision: the only trace that one has some finds in a register of church and was undoubtedly registered a few days after its birth. The most probable date is on May 1st 1769, but it is possible that was a few days before or afterwards. Its initial name Arthur Wesley was legally changed for Arthur Wellesley in March 1798.

Wellesley studies with Eton 1781 with 1785, then with Brussels. In 1787, his/her father buys to him a function of sign in the 73e regiment of infantry; after a first drive in the United Kingdom, it joined the military academy of Angers in France, sign in 1787, lieutenant in the same year.

Of 1787 with 1793, it is affected like aide-de-camp of two Lords lieutenants d' successive Irlande. It is promoted lieutenant in 1788; in 1790, it is elected appointed (independent) of Trim to the House of Commons of Ireland, station which it will keep until in 1797.

It quickly progresses in the armed - mainly thanks to the system of the time when the officers could (and often had) buy their rank - and in 1793, he becomes lieutenant-colonel in the 33e regiment of infantry. It fights with the Netherlands between 1794 and 1795. He was in addition freemason.

In 1796, after being promoted with the rank of colonel, it leaves with his regiment for the India. The following year, his/her older brother, Richard Wellesley, count de Mornington, is named General governor of the Indies, and when the war bursts in 1799 against the sultan of Mysore, Tipû Sâhib, Arthur Wellesley orders its own division. It is named governor of Seringapatam and Mysore, stations which it will keep until in 1805. Thanks to its military victories, it is named supreme commander (political and military) of the Deccan, it gains new victories, in particular against the chief brigand Dundiat Wagh and the Marathe S in 1803. In 1804 it is made knight of the Ordre of the Bath. When his/her brother completes his mandate in 1805, it turns over to the the United Kingdom with him.

In 1806, Wellesley is elected of Rye (Sussex) for six months with the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; The following year, he is elected of Newport (Island of Wight) which he will represent two years. During this period, it is affiliated with the Tory S, and in April 1807, it is named with the “private council of the king”. However its political role was brutally stopped when it set sail for the continent to take part in the Napoleonean wars.

The war against Napoleon

It is in the years which follow that place the events had which made it possible Wellesley to return in the History. At that time, Napoleon controls the major part of Europe and the British government seeks means of countering the threat which it became.

After a forwarding with the Denmark, Wellesley is promoted lieutenant-general and transferred in the Iberian peninsula. Although the combat is rather badly committed, it is the single place of the continent of Europe where the British (and Portuguese) succeeded in fighting against the France and its allies. Wellesley beats the French with Roliça and Vimeiro in 1808. The agreement of Sintra which results from it and which stipulates that the British army would evacuate the French out of Lisbon is very criticized and Wellesley is briefly recalled to the United Kingdom. At the same time, however, Napoleon comes itself to Spain, and when the general John Moore is killed with the Bataille of Corogne, Welleslley is named commander-in-chief of all the British forces in Portugal.

Returning in the Iberian peninsula in April 1809, it beats the army of the king Joseph of Spain (the older brother of Napoleon) to the Bataille of Talavera. After that, it is high with the Pairie as a Vicomte Wellington, of Talavera and Wellington (Somerset) . It pushes back the French forces out of Portugal in 1810 and 1811 and is promoted Général for his services in this country.

Crossing Spain, it beats the French with the Bataille of Salamanque and takes Madrid in 1812. This year there, a French counter-attack puts the British army in a difficult position but Lord Wellington receives the command of all the allied armies in Spain and is made Marquis de Wellington the October 3rd. Promoted marshal, Wellington leads a new offensive in 1813, culminating with the Bataille of Vitoria, which brings back the imperial army to France. It invades France and runs up against the Soult marshal who directs the defense of Toulouse the April 10th 1814. The exit of this battle, object of debates (see with Toulouse), mark end of the campaign of 1814. The 11, Napoleon signs the Traité of Fontainebleau, concluded the 6, and is exiled with the isle of Elba.

Acclaimed as hero, Wellington is made Duc of Wellington, title always carried by its descendants. It is soon named ambassador in France, then replaces Lord Castlereagh like plenipotentiary with the Congrès of Vienna, where it pleads vigorously so that is allowed France to keep its place in the balance of the European powers. The January 2nd 1815, it is made Chevalier Grand Cross of the Ordre of the Bath.

The February 26th 1815, Napoleon leaves his exile in Elba and returns to France, and in May, it found the control of the country. It must then face a reformation of alliance against him. Wellington leaves Vienna then to take the head of the British and allied forces during the countryside of Waterloo. It arrives in Belgium and its avant-garde fights the French with the Bataille of Four-Arm before being folded up. Two days later, the June 18th, Wellington, with the support of the Prussian forces ordered by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher definitively beats Napoleon with the Bataille of Waterloo. The French Emperor abdicates once again the June 22nd, and is exiled by the British on the island Sainte-Hélène.

Fascinated by the memory of the Emperor, it spent long hours, sitted in front of its table, silencer…

Return to the policy

In 1819, Wellington is named Master-General off the Ordnance - station of the British army independent of the person in charge and commander-in-chief of all artillery, fortifications, intendance… - in the Tory government of Lord Liverpool. In 1827, he becomes Commander-in-chief of the British army, posts that he will occupy until the end of his life, except during its mandate of Prime Minister. At the same time as Robert Peel, Wellington is a rising star of the Tory party, and in 1828, it becomes Prime Minister.

Like Prime Minister, Wellington is the prototype of the ultra-conservative, however it is oddly during its mandate which the law of emancipation of the catholics passed, granting to them the guarantee of practically all the civil laws in the United Kingdom. Lord Winchilsea showed Wellington “treacherously to have plotted the destruction of the Protestant constitution”. Wellington then caused it in duel, duel which took place the March 21st 1829 with the fields of Battersea. At the time to draw, Wellington aimed deliberately at side and Winchilsea drew in the air.

The Wellington government falls in 1830. There were many riots this summer and this autumn there. The Whigs, which had not been practically any more with the capacity since the Années 1770, transfer the political reforms like the key of their return. Wellington, respecting with the letter the preserving political line of Torys loses a vote of confidence the November 15th 1830. It is replaced like Prime Minister by Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey which initiates a great liberal reform, in front of making it pass from force to the House of Lords.

At the time it return to the capacity of Torys in 1834, Wellington declines the post of Prime Minister who goes to Robert Peel; however, this one being in Italy, Wellington must take over temporarily the duties lasting three weeks, in November and December 1834. In the first government Peel (1834-1841), Wellington is secretary of foreign affairs, and in the second (1841 - 1846) he is minister without portfolio and president of the House of Lords.

Wellington withdraws political life in 1846, although remaining commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and briefly reconsiders the front of the scene in 1848, when it helps to organize a force of protection of London during this year of revolutions in Europe. He dies in 1852 and is buried with the cathedral Saint-Paul.

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