Every so often we like to present interesting and notable persons who are not Scottish. Such is the case with the 1st Duke of Wellington born into an Anglo-Irish family.
BLAZON OF ARMS:
SHIELD: Quarterly 1st and 4th Gules a cross argent between twenty plates five in saltire in each quadrant; (Wellesley) 2nd and 3rd Or a lion rampant Gules; (Colley); Overall at the honour point an inescutcheon charged of the Union viz Azure a saltire parted per saltire Argent and Gules the latter fimbriated Argent and overall a cross Gules also fimbriated Argent
SOURCE, NOTES & CREDITS: The illustration of arms for background is from the internet Wikipedia article. Text is adapted from the same source. The blazon is from our artist and friend John Gaylor for which we thank him. It is to be noted that the blazon given and used by Wikipedia for the Duke of Wellington is incorrect. Some of the Colley family did have their lion rampant Gules ducally collared gold but not our Duke. There is an incredible amount of information available on the Duke, recommend starting with the Wikipedia article, then look him up in Burke’s Peerage, etc.
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was a British statesman, soldier, and Tory politician. He was one of the leading British military and political figures of 19th-century Britain. He was born Arthur Wesley on 1 May 1769 in Dublin, into the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland.
Arthur Wellesley had a long almost uniquely successful military career between 1787 as an ensign culminating in his victory at Waterloo as a Field Marshal in 1815. In Sep 1805, having returned from India as a Major General, he met Lord Nelson very briefly whilst between assignments. Seven weeks later Nelson was killed at Trafalgar and had become a national hero to the English. Wellesley went on to have his own victories. He rose to prominence as a general during the Peninsular campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. Arthur Wellesley participated in some 60 battles in all.
After 1818, back in the UK he became a Tory politician, twice serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and retired in 1846.
The 1st Duke of Wellington died on 14 Sep 1852, at age 83 in Walmer, Kent, England.
The Wellington Dukedom is extant with Charles Wellesley as the 9th Duke of Wellington. He was born on 19 August 1945. He has an heir who also has an heir. So this dukedom looks pretty safe for now.
The artwork is an interpretation of John Hamilton Gaylor
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