Military career of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington facts for kids
Arthur Wellesley, known as the Duke of Wellington, was a very important British military leader and politician in the 1800s. He is famous for his success in many wars. He fought in India during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the Second Anglo-Maratha War. He also fought in Europe during the Napoleonic Wars.
Wellesley started his army career in 1787 as a young officer. He first saw action in the Flanders campaign. Back then, wealthy officers could buy their way up the ranks. Wellesley bought his first four promotions. After that, he became famous and rose in rank because he was a brilliant commander.
Between 1794 and 1815, Wellesley took part in many military campaigns. He won important battles in India and across Europe.
He faced and defeated many of Napoleon's top generals during the Peninsular War. This was when he led the British and Portuguese armies. But his most famous battle was at Waterloo in 1815. There, he led an army of British and Allied forces to a huge victory over Napoleon. This was the last battle for both commanders, and it ended the Napoleonic Wars.
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Military Career
Historians aren't sure exactly how many battles Wellington fought in. Some say he commanded in seventeen major battles and sieges between 1808 and 1815. Others say he fought in about twenty-four battles before Waterloo. What we do know is that he was involved in at least fifty different military actions. These included battles, sieges, and smaller fights throughout his career. He also gave orders for many other fights during the Napoleonic Wars. Britain played a big part in fighting Napoleon from 1805 to 1815.
Early Days in the Army
Wellesley bought his first officer rank, called ensign, in 1787. He then became an aide-de-camp, which is like a personal assistant to a senior officer. He continued to buy promotions, becoming a lieutenant in 1787, a captain in 1791, and a major in 1793. He became a lieutenant-colonel in 1793, at just 24 years old. After this, he could only get promoted based on his experience and success, not by buying ranks.
In September 1794, Wellesley fought his first battle against the French at Boxtel. He became a colonel in 1796. In June of that year, he was sent to India with his regiment.
Fighting in India
In 1799, Wellesley fought in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. He led three successful battles for the East India Company.
In 1800, while he was Governor of Mysore, Wellesley had to stop a rebellion. A former soldier named Dhoondiah Waugh was leading it. Waugh had gathered a large force of old soldiers and was raiding villages. He even captured some British forts. Wellesley was given command of a combined British and East India Company army.
In June 1800, Wellesley led his 8,000 soldiers against Waugh's forces. Waugh had over 50,000 men, but most were light cavalry and not a serious threat. Wellesley's troops captured forts easily. Waugh kept retreating, but his forces were leaving him. On September 10, at the Battle of Conaghul, Wellesley personally led 1,400 cavalry against Waugh's remaining 5,000 cavalry. Waugh was killed during the charge. This victory restored British control.
After winning the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, Wellesley became a major-general in 1802. He also led the 33rd Regiment from 1806 to 1813. He said his regiment was "the quietest and best behaved body of men in the army."
Wellesley had more success in India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–05). In 1807, he helped secure Denmark by fighting Danish land forces at the Battle of Køge. This was part of Britain's effort to stop Napoleon from controlling trade in Europe.
Leading in Europe
Wellesley became a lieutenant-general in 1808. He was supposed to invade Spanish America. But in 1807, Napoleon invaded Portugal and Spain. The people of Spain rebelled against the French. Both Portugal and Spain asked Britain for help.
The Peninsular War
In August 1808, Wellesley arrived in Portugal with 13,000–15,000 soldiers. Just three weeks later, he defeated the French at the Battle of Vimeiro. The French general, Junot, asked for a ceasefire. This led to the Convention of Cintra, which allowed French troops to leave Portugal with all their equipment.
Wellesley returned to England. His victory was overshadowed by the controversial treaty. People were angry that the French were allowed to take their looted goods. A public inquiry was held. Wellesley said he didn't negotiate the terms and thought they were too generous. The inquiry praised his role at Vimeiro.
In 1809, the British commander in Spain, Sir John Moore, was killed. Wellesley suggested sending 30,000 British troops to defend Portugal. His idea was approved, and he returned to Lisbon in April 1809. He was put in charge of all British forces in Portugal.
He continued the Peninsular War for five more years. He fought French armies across Portugal, Spain, and into France. After the Battle of Talavera in July 1809, Wellesley was given the titles of baron and viscount. He chose "Wellington" as his new name.
The Battle of Waterloo
In 1811, Wellesley was promoted to general. His final promotion was to field marshal in 1813, after his success at the Battle of Vitoria. This battle broke the French hold on Spain.
He returned to Europe in 1815 to command the Allied forces against Napoleon. Napoleon had escaped from exile and was trying to regain power. This period is known as the Hundred Days.
After the Battle of Waterloo, Wellesley saw about 50,000 soldiers dead or dying. He reportedly wept and said, "I hope to God I have fought my last battle." It was a victory, but at a terrible cost. This marked the end of his military career. He then became a leading politician in Britain. He served as Master-General of the Ordnance and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. Wellington never fought another battle.
Wellington's Leadership Style
Wellesley was very good at planning how to move and supply his army. He knew that thousands of men needed food and supplies. Keeping supply lines open to the Portuguese coast was vital for fighting the French.
In April 1809, Wellesley returned to Portugal with 28,000 British and 16,000 Portuguese troops. The French Army in Spain had 360,000 soldiers. Even with Portuguese and Spanish support, Wellington faced huge odds. Many British politicians wanted to pull out of the war. This made Wellington realize he needed a strong defensive plan first.
At Waterloo, about 26,000 of his 73,000 soldiers were British. Many of his experienced soldiers from the Peninsular War had been sent to fight in North America.
Wellington faced armies that were once part of Napoleon's powerful Grande Armée. These French armies were now smaller and spread out in Spain. They were commanded by Napoleon's marshals, his top generals. Wellington's army was mostly volunteers. British troops were better trained than the French. Napoleon only fought in Spain once, from 1808 to 1809. Later, he moved many experienced troops from Spain to Germany, weakening his forces there.
Wellington's army had infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (soldiers on horseback), and artillery (cannons). Engineers were also important. They built defensive lines, like the Lines of Torres Vedras, to protect Lisbon. Wellington's infantry was his strongest weapon. He had few cavalry before 1812, and his cannons were not as good as the French ones.
He used a defensive strategy until 1812. Then, he went on the attack, winning the Battle of Salamanca. He marched into Madrid in August 1812. The Spanish government made Wellington commander-in-chief of all Allied armies. This gave him an extra 21,000 Spanish troops.
Wellington never lost a major battle, though he did have some setbacks. His biggest defeat was at the Siege of Burgos in 1812. He lost 2,000 men and had to retreat. He called it "the worst scrape I was ever in." After getting more troops, he started his final attack in June 1813. He advanced through the Pyrenees mountains and into France. The French were now fighting to defend their own country.
The war against the French lasted six years. Wellington finally drove the French out of Spain and Portugal. On April 12, 1814, news reached him that Napoleon had given up power. The war was over. Wellington and his army had marched thousands of miles and fought many battles. Their efforts helped bring down Napoleon and brought peace to Europe.
Key Battles and Victories
Wellington was involved in many battles. Sometimes he sent other officers to fight, especially in distant places. He wasn't always present at every skirmish. Here are some of his most important battles:
- Battle of Boxtel (1794): His first battle, a defeat against the French.
- Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799): He won battles like Mallavelly and Sultanpet Tope, and helped capture Seringapatam.
- Waugh Insurgency (1800): He led successful sieges and won the decisive Battle of Conaghul.
- Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805): He won important battles like Assaye and Argaon, and captured Gawilghur.
- Battle of Køge (1807): A decisive victory against the Danish.
- Peninsular War (1808-1814):
- Battle of Roliça (1808): His first victory in Portugal.
- Battle of Vimeiro (1808): A decisive victory against the French.
- Second Battle of Porto (1809): A victory in Portugal.
- Battle of Bussaco (1810): A victory in Portugal.
- Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812): A victory in Spain.
- Siege of Badajoz (1812): A victory in Spain.
- Battle of Salamanca (1812): A decisive victory in Spain.
- Battle of Vitoria (1813): A decisive victory in Spain, breaking French power.
- Battle of the Bidassoa (1813): A victory as he entered France.
- Battle of Nivelle (1813): A victory in France.
- Battle of Orthez (1814): A victory in France.
- Hundred Days (1815):
- Battle of Quatre Bras (1815): An indecisive battle before Waterloo.
- Battle of Waterloo (1815): His most famous and decisive victory over Napoleon.
Images for kids
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Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1815
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Detail of a bronze relief panel, depicting the Battle of Waterloo, beneath Carlo Marochetti's statue of the Duke of Wellington, Glasgow
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