Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

The Most Noble Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, PC, FRS (c. 1 May 1769–14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman, widely considered one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century. Commissioned an Ensign in the British Army, he would rise to prominence in the Napoleonic Wars, eventually reaching the rank of Field Marshal.

Titles & Honours

Peerage of the United Kingdom

• Baron Douro, of Wellesley in the County of Somerset (4 September 1809)
• Viscount Wellington, of Talavera and of Wellington in the County of Somerset (4 September 1809)
• Earl of Wellington, in the County of Somerset (28 February 1812)
• Marquess of Wellington, in the County of Somerset (3 October 1812)
• Marquess Douro (11 May 1814)
• Duke of Wellington, in the County of Somerset (11 May 1814)

British & Irish Honours

• Knight of the Bath (1804)
• Privy Councillor of Great Britain (8 April 1807)
• Privy Councillor of Ireland (28 April 1807)
• Knight of the Garter (1813)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1815)
• Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1829)
• Peninsular Cross medal with nine bars for all campaigns--the only one so issued. Displayed at Apsley House along with a Waterloo Medal.
• Fellow of the Royal Society (1847)

International Honours & Titles

• Conde de Vimeiro (18 October 1811, Portugal)
• Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo (January 1812, Spain)
• Grandee of the First Class (January 1812, Spain)
• Marquês de Torres Vedras (August 1812, Portugal)
• Duque de Vittoria (18 December 1812, Portugal)
• Knight of the Golden Fleece (1812, Spain)
• Prins van Waterloo (18 July 1815, The Netherlands)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Hanover (1816, Hanover)
• Field Marshal batons from 12 countries. These can be seen at Apsley House.

The Duke of Wellington stood as godfather to Queen Victoria's seventh child, Prince Arthur, in 1850. The Duke of Wellington and his godson shared the same birthdate, and as a toddler, young Arthur was encouraged to remind people that the Duke of Wellington was his godfather.

Related Topics:
Godfather - Queen Victoria - Prince Arthur

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