Waterloo Elm facts for kids
The Waterloo Elm was a famous tree that stood near a main road in Belgium. It became well-known because it was the main command post for the Duke of Wellington during the important Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. After the battle, many people wanted a piece of the tree as a souvenir. Sadly, these souvenir hunters damaged the tree so much that it died. The tree was cut down in 1818. Its wood was then used to make special furniture, including a chair for King George IV. This chair is still kept in the British Royal Collection today.
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The Tree's Role in the Battle
The Waterloo Elm was a key spot during the Battle of Waterloo. The Duke of Wellington, who led the British and allied armies, used this tree as his main command center. From this spot, he could see much of the battlefield. He gave orders and directed his troops from under its branches. This made the tree a silent witness to a very important moment in history.
Souvenirs and Special Items
After the battle, many people wanted a piece of the Waterloo Elm. One famous person who took a souvenir was Sir Walter Scott, a well-known writer. In 1824, he had a silversmith named Joseph Angell create a silver cup called a quaich. This cup had pieces of the elm wood built into it. The cup was engraved with Scott's personal motto, "Watch Well."
Sadly, this special "Waterloo Tree Quaich" was stolen from Scott's home, Abbotsford House, in 1994. However, it was found in a market in France in 2010 and returned to its rightful owners.
What Happened to the Wood
The dead Waterloo Elm tree was bought by John George Children. He was a librarian at the British Museum. He had the tree cut down and shipped all the way to England. Besides the chair made for King George IV, other items were crafted from the wood.
Some of these items included:
- A cabinet for storing minerals.
- A small table cabinet.
- A writing table.
- A work-table, which belonged to his daughter, Anna Atkins.
- Another chair.
- A stand for a statue of the Duke of Wellington.
Some of the wood was also given to other people. For example, a chair was made for the Duke of Rutland. Also, a wine cooler made from the wood is now at Wellington College.
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