Iron Facts About The Duke Of Wellington, Napoleon's Nemesis

February 28, 2019 | Miles Brucker

Iron Facts About The Duke Of Wellington, Napoleon's Nemesis


With his decisive victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington became an icon of 19th century England. Like Horatio Nelson, his naval counterpart, the “Iron Duke” was synonymous with courage, stoicism, and duty. Yet, away from the battlefield, this embodiment of conformist British morality had a host of peculiar habits and an insatiable appetite for women. Here are 42 noble facts about the Duke of Wellington.


Facts About The Duke Of Wellington

1. Horse Sense

Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, was born on the first of May, 1769. Though he would become an icon of the British Empire, the Duke was actually born in Dublin, Ireland. This fact caused Wellington great embarrassment, and prompted him to remark, “Because a man is born in a stable, it does not make him a horse.” (It should come as little surprise to know that Wellington isn't very popular with the Irish).

Duke Of Wellington facts Wikipedia

2. House Sitter

Wellington’s antipathy to the Irish did not prevent him from entering the Irish Parliament. Running on a pro-English, anti-independence platform, Wellington was elected MP for Trim, County Meath, in 1879.

Duke Of Wellington factsWikimedia Commons, Francis Wheatley

Advertisement

3. The Name Game

At his birth, Wellington’s name was, in fact, Arthur Wesley. He changed it to Wellesley in 1798, just as his military career was skyrocketing, thinking it appeared more refined.

Dwayne Johnson factsShutterstock

4. Military School

Just as his brothers had been, Wellington was sent to study at Eton. He was socially awkward, and his academic performance left something to be desired. Convinced he would never amount to anything, his mother withdrew him from Eton and sent him to a French Military Academy.

Duke Of Wellington factsShutterstock

5. Breaking Up The Band

Wellington initially held aspirations of becoming a musician, but he burnt his violin in a fit of anger when his marriage proposal to Kitty Pakenham was rejected by her brother, the Earl of Longford. From that point on, the military was his only true muse.

Duke Of Wellington factsPixabay

Advertisement

6. Buying A Job

His dreams of musical stardom shattered, Wellington borrowed some money from his brother and used it to buy himself the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel with the 33rd Regiment (because that was something you could do back then).

Duke Of Wellington factsShutterstock

7. How Do You Like Me Now?

After a brief detour in the Netherlands, Wellington was shipped to India, where he spent ten years quashing insurrections and amassing a personal fortune of £42,000, which was nothing to sniff at back then. With the new rank of General and wealth in his favor, Wellington once again asked for Kitty Pakenham’s hand in marriage, and it was happily granted this time. Too bad you can't un-burn a violin.

Duke Of Wellington factsPixabay

8. Conehead

Glaswegians have their own creative way of honoring the Duke. The statue of Wellington on horseback that stands in front of Glasgow’s Royal Exchange can usually be found wearing a traffic cone on its head. Placing a cone on the Duke’s head has been a popular prank since the 1980s, with some even using it as an opportunity to raise awareness of political or community issues. The City of Glasgow discourages the practice, however, and spends £10,000 every year removing the cones.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

Advertisement

9. Co-Inn-cidence

On his return home from India, Wellington’s ship stopped briefly at St. Helena, the same remote island where his arch-nemesis, Napoleon Bonaparte, would be exiled years later.

Duke Of Wellington factsPixabay

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

10. Buckle Up

Back in Europe, Wellington took part in numerous battles around Portugal, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Unlike other commanders of the time, Wellington freely rode into the frontlines with his troops. This was risky, however. At the Battle of Orthez in 1814, allegedly while teasing one of his men for being hit with a stray bullet, Wellington was struck in the leg by a musket ball. Luckily for him, the ball ricocheted off the sword on his hip, sparing him from serious injury.

Duke Of Wellington factsWikimedia Commons

11. Bar-Hopping

There are many things named after the Duke of Wellington: the capital of New Zealand; a mountain in New York; a beef dish that he probably never ate. But the most impressive honor is the nearly 100 pubs named after the Duke of Wellington in England alone. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who ate only cold meat and bread, but always washed it down with the most expensive wine available.

Duke Of Wellington factsWikimedia Commons, Rept0n1x

Advertisement

12. Dancing Fool

Wellington didn't regularly show great emotion on the battlefield, but when he did, he made it count. When it became clear that he would earn the victory at the Battle of Toulouse, he broke into a flamenco dance.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

13. Making A Name For Himself

It was after the victory at Toulouse that Arthur Wellesley earned the title of Duke of Wellington in the County of Somerset. He was also given the title of Marquess of Douro.

Duke Of Wellington factsWikimedia Commons

14. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Wellington is most famous for his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. The battle was actually fought at Braine-l’Alleud, just south of Waterloo, but Wellington had established a pattern of naming his battles after the place he had spent the night before the battle, hence Waterloo.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

Advertisement

15. Close Call

Wellington was almost killed at Waterloo. A cannonball flew straight at him and his horse, narrowly missing and killing the soldier beside them.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

16. Robin Hood

In 1961, bus driver Kempton Bunton stole a portrait of Wellington, painted by Francisco Goya and valued at $390,000. He offered to return it on one condition: all poor people got TVs. In those days, you needed a license to purchase and install a television in England; Bunton wanted $140,000 to buy licenses for low-income people. Bunton’s lawyers later argued that, since he had no intention of keeping the painting, he could not be convicted of theft.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

17. Doctored Image

Bunton returned the painting in 1965 and served a three-month sentence, but by then his charitable efforts had already become a part of British pop culture history. In the 1962 James Bond film Dr. No, the portrait can be seen hanging in Dr. No’s lair, a sly nod to the as-yet-unidentified thief.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

Advertisement

18. Time Travel

Waterloo sealed Wellington’s place in history, but he almost missed it. Before the battle, Wellington had been asked to instead go to Canada, to lead the British in the War of 1812. Wellington plead his case and was able to stay in Europe, no doubt explaining that, since it was already 1814, the War of 1812 would be over already by the time he got there.

Backstreet Boys factsPixabay

19. What’s The Point?

Sorry, we just can’t resist a good 1812 joke. Wellington did refuse to go to Canada, but it was because he believed the War of 1812 was destined to end in a stalemate, and he would therefore be more useful in Europe. Wellington’s prediction proved more or less correct, with neither the British or the Americans ceding any territory in the conflict.

Nicolas Cage factsShutterstock

20. Going Out On Top

Wellington retired from army life after Waterloo. He fought in 60 battles and never lost one, though some attribute his streak to his willingness to retreat rather than risk heavy casualties.

Duke Of Wellington factsShutterstock

Advertisement

21. He Who Laughs Last

Years later, Wellington ran into some French generals at a party in Vienna. They had been at Waterloo and turned away from him immediately. The hostess apologized for their rudeness, but Wellington brushed it off and delivered one of history's sickest burns: “I have seen their backs before, madam.”

Duke Of Wellington factsShutterstock

22. Tough Crowd

Despite his many victories, Wellington remained an unpopular figure in England. The public considered him aloof and rude; the government, despite all evidence to the contrary, doubted his military abilities. The future King George IV even admitted he liked Napoleon better.

Common Misconceptions factsGetty Images

23. Old Habits Die Hard

Though he was retired from the army, Wellington had a hard time giving up some old habits. Despite the fact that he now lived in a literal castle in the English countryside, Wellington continued to sleep in a camp bed, rising before dawn every morning and enjoying his usual meal of cold meat and bread.

Duke Of Wellington factsPixabay

Advertisement

24. A Stuffed Horse

Wellington himself may have been ascetic in his practices, but that didn’t stop him from spoiling his beloved horse, Copenhagen. The thoroughbred racehorse, whom Wellington rode at Waterloo, died when the general fed him too much cake. Isn't that how we all hope to go?

Catherine The Great QuizPexels

25. Hoofing It

Prior to Copenhagen’s burial, Wellington discovered that someone cut off one of his beloved horse’s hoofs. The desecration infuriated the Duke. A farmer later spotted the hoof for sale for three shillings; he bought it and returned it to the Duke, whose son had it made into an inkstand.

Duke Of Wellington factsPixabay

26. Fashion Forward

At a time when the British army favored bright red coats and foot-high shako hats, Wellington’s style of dress was conspicuously inconspicuous. In battle, Wellington eschewed decorations and medals and wore dark clothes so as not to be readily identified by the enemy. He also kept his hair cut short: it was cleaner and easier to maintain than the powdered wigs his fellow officers wore. Wellington’s ideas of practicality and camouflage would not catch on with the British army until World War I.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

Advertisement

27. For A Rainy Day

Wellington’s footwear also made a splash. Wellington wore custom-made leather boots, designed to be suitable for all situations, military or formal, and weatherproofed for the rain. They became even more prominent when British fashion icon Beau Brummell decided he needed his own pair of Wellington boots. Now made of rubber, the “Wellie” is still the boot of choice in rainy weather.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

28. Holy War

In 1828, Wellington became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His most notable accomplishment as Prime Minister was the Catholic Relief Act, which gave equal rights to Catholics. It was a deeply unpopular move; one critic so insulted Wellington that the former General challenged him to a duel.

Benedict Arnold factsShutterstock

29. Hypocrisy

Wellington did not extend his religious tolerance to everyone, however. When a bill to grant full religious liberties to Jewish citizens was introduced in 1833, Wellington voted against it. The bill failed to pass.

Lauren Bacall factsPixabay

Advertisement

30. Life’s A Riot

Riots broke out in 1831. Some workers were dissatisfied with the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution, others were upset that Wellington refused to support a Reform Bill which would have extended voting rights to more citizens. The target of much public anger, Wellington earned a vote of non-confidence from Parliament.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

31. Who’s The Boss?

Wellington had a hard time adjusting to the differences between politics and the army. He once said of his cabinet, “An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them!”

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

32. In Da Club

Wellington was a member of London’s exclusive Almack’s Club. Membership to the club was granted by a group of wealthy society women, all of whom adored Wellington. Even so, Wellington was twice refused entry into the club, once because he was seven minutes late, and another time because he was wearing black trousers. Can you even imagine? Black trousers?!

Duke Of Wellington factsWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

33. A Final Insult

Wellington kept an erotic portrait of Napoleon’s sister hanging in his bedchamber.

Wedding Objections factsShutterstock

34. A Hero’s Death

The Duke of Wellington died of the aftereffects of a stroke on 14 September, 1852. He was 83 years old. As one of England’s greatest military heroes, he was given a state funeral, and is buried beside Horatio Nelson in St. Paul’s Cathedral, in London.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

35. Going Off The Rails

Wellington’s body was brought to London on a train. This is somewhat ironic, as Wellington hated traveling by rail, having witnessed a man run over by a locomotive in 1830.

Duke Of Wellington factsPixabay

Advertisement

36. Plus Ҫa Change

Today, the Duke of Wellington’s direct descendant, Arthur Mornington, Earl of Mornington (the current Duke of Wellington's son) works as a partner for the private investment firm Orkney Capital. The direct descendant of Napoleon, Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon, is a partner at rival firm Advent International.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

37. Ladies’ Man

Wellington was married, unhappily, to Kitty Pakenham, the daughter of an Irish lord. Frequently away from home, Wellington carried out numerous affairs. Among his mistresses were Harriette Wilson (a famous courtesan of the day), Russian princess Dorothea Lieven, and allegedly even two of Napoleon’s former mistresses.

Fyre Festival factsShutterstock

38. Second Thoughts

Wellington revealed that the intervening ten years between when he'd first proposed and when they finally married played a large part in his souring on his wife. In that time, she had fallen ill, and her once-great beauty was faded. Wellington even cruelly confided in his brother his disappointment that Kitty had “turned ugly.” Not a great look, Arty.

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

Advertisement

39. Stop Snitching

When news broke that Harriette Wilson was planning to publish her memoirs, Wellington received a letter from her publisher, offering to leave his name out of it (for a small fee, of course). Wellington’s reply was “Publish and be damned!”

History’s Greatest Mistresses quizGetty Images

40. Riding The Coach

Though he developed a reputation as a stern disciplinarian, Wellington could be surprisingly wild among his friends. One mistress disclosed that Wellington had a favorite party game: he and another officer would put on horse harnesses and drag ladies around their manor in a wild race. They called this game “Riding the Coach.”

Duke Of Wellington factsShutterstock

41. War Is Hell

The Duke of Wellington was known as one of England’s fiercest and most proficient military men, but he did not love war. After the Battle of Waterloo, he is said to have wept while reading the list of the dead. Wellington later said, “Believe me that nothing, excepting a battle lost, can be half so melancholy as a battle won.”

Duke Of Wellington factsShutterstock

Advertisement

42. Stiff Upper Lip

Wellington was careful to hide his emotions on the battlefield, however. So the story goes, when a British Field Marshall named Lord Uxbridge had his leg destroyed by a cannonball, he cried out, “By God, Sir! I’ve lost my leg,” and Wellington calmly replied, “By God, Sir! So you have.”

Duke Of Wellington factsGetty Images

Sources1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.