Anne Wellesley, Countess of Mornington facts for kids

Anne Wellesley, also known as the Countess of Mornington, was an important Anglo-Irish noblewoman. She was born Anne Hill-Trevor on June 23, 1742. She passed away on September 10, 1831, at 89 years old.

Anne Wellesley was married to Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington. She was also the mother of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Her son Arthur became very famous as the winner of the Battle of Waterloo.

Her Early Life

Anne was born in 1742. Her father was Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon, a banker. Her mother was Anne Stafford.

Anne's mother was known for spending a lot of money. This caused some money worries for their family. Anne was also friends with Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby. They were known as the famous Ladies of Llangollen.

Her Family

Anne married Garrett Wesley, the Earl of Mornington, in 1759. People said they had a happy marriage. Anne and Mornington had nine children together. Seven of their children lived to be adults.

Here are their children:

• Richard, Viscount Wellesley (born 1760 – died 1842). He later became the 1st Marquess Wellesley.
• Arthur Gerald Wellesley (died 1768). He was named after his grandfather.
• The Hon. William Wellesley (born 1763 – died 1845). He later became William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington.
• Francis Wellesley (born 1767 – died 1770).
• Lady Anne Wellesley (born 1768 – died 1844). She married Henry FitzRoy, and later Charles Culling Smith.
• The Hon. Arthur Wellesley (born 1769 – died 1852). He became the famous 1st Duke of Wellington.
• The Revd and Hon. Gerald Valerian Wellesley (born 1770 – died 1848). He was the father of George Wellesley.
• Lady Mary Elizabeth Wellesley (born 1772 – died 1794).
• The Hon. Henry Wellesley (born 1773 – died 1847). He later became the 1st Baron Cowley.

Lord Mornington passed away in 1781. Anne and her oldest son, Richard, then had to raise the younger children. Richard was 21 at the time.

Anne did not always get along with her son Arthur when he was young. She once said he was "food for powder and nothing more." This meant she thought he was only good for being a soldier. She often worried about his future.

In 1785, Lady Mornington moved to Brussels to save money. She took Arthur with her. When she returned to Britain in 1786, she sent him to a special riding school in France.

In 1813, the British Parliament gave Anne a pension of £600. This was because of her son Arthur's great success in the Peninsular War.

Her husband's noble titles were part of the Irish peerage. This meant he could be part of the Irish House of Lords. This group stopped meeting after Ireland joined with Great Britain in 1800.

Four of her five sons who lived to adulthood also earned important titles. These titles allowed them to be part of the United Kingdom House of Lords. Her fifth son, Gerald Valerian, became a bishop. This gave him a high position similar to a noble.