Lieutenant-GeneralArthur Richard Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington, KG,PC (3 February 1807 – 13 August 1884), styled Lord Douro between 1812 and 1814 and Marquess of Douro between 1814 and 1852, was a British soldier and politician. The eldest son of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, victor of Waterloo and Prime Minister, he succeeded his father in the dukedom in 1852 and held minor political office as Master of the Horse from 1853 to 1858. In 1858, he was made a Knight of the Garter.
"The son of Waterloo". Wellington, as caricatured by Adriano Cecioni in Vanity Fair, June 1872.
Wellington married Lady Elizabeth Hay, daughter of Field MarshalGeorge Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale, in 1839. They had no children. The marriage was not a happy one although Lady Elizabeth was a great favourite with her father-in-law.[16] On succeeding his illustrious father he was said to have remarked: "Imagine what it will be when the Duke of Wellington is announced, and only I walk in the room."[This quote needs a citation] The relationship between father and son is often described as the classic case of the son of a famous father who cannot match such fame.[17] Wellington died at Brighton Railway Station, Brighton, Sussex, in August 1884, aged 77, and was buried at the family seat Stratfield Saye House, Hampshire. His probate was resworn six years later at £171,356 (equivalent to about £22,600,000 in 2023).[18] He was succeeded by his nephew, Henry. The Duchess died at Bearhill (Burhill) Park (House), Hersham, Surrey, in August 1904, aged 83, and was buried at Stratfield Saye. Her probate left assets of £13,997.[18]
He owned 19,000 acres of these 15,000 acres in Hampshire.[19]
In literature
The Brontë family portrayed the first Duke of Wellington and his two sons in their imaginary games about the colonisation of Africa. They wrote many stories about Arthur, with Charlotte assuming the character of Charles as the "author" of these stories. As Charlotte and Branwell moved into their teenage years and used Lord Byron's writings as inspiration, they focused on Arthur as a romantic, heroic figure. He was known to them as the Duke of Zamorna, and later as Emperor Adrian of Angria. Elements of his character formed the basis for Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre.[20][21][22][23]
Thomas Raikes ("the Younger"), a British merchant banker, dandy and diarist, was a close childhood friend, travelling and gambling companion of Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington. His journals Two volumes of Private Correspondence with the 2nd Duke of Wellington and other Distinguished Contemporaries were published in 1861.[citation needed]
Styles
3 February 1807 – 26 August 1809: Arthur Richard Wellesley, Esq.
26 August 1809 – 28 February 1812: Hon. Arthur Richard Wellesley, Esq.
28 February 1812 – 3 May 1814: Lord Douro
3 May 1814 – 14 September 1852: Marquess of Douro
14 September 1852 – 7 February 1853: His GraceThe Duke of Wellington
7 February 1853 – 25 March 1858: His Grace The Duke of Wellington PC
25 March 1858 – 13 August 1884: His Grace The Duke of Wellington KG, PC