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A portrait of the Duke of Wellington in 1808, at the beginning of the Peninsula War. Arthur Wellesley gained a commission in the army in 1787 and first served in Holland and India. He was involved in politics, becoming an MP in 1806 and chief secretary for Ireland in 1807. He went on to serve as prime minister 1828–30, but he is best remembered for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
(Image © Billie Love)

Wellington at the Battle of Vittoria, 21 June 1813. At this decisive battle of the Peninsular War of 1808–14, British forces under the Duke of Wellington defeated the French army of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdain at Vittoria in northern Spain, forcing Joseph Bonaparte – who had been made king of Spain by Napoleon – to flee back to France.
(Image © The Art Archive)

Irish-born British soldier and Tory politician. As commander in the Peninsular War, he expelled the French from Spain in 1814. He defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo in 1815, and was a member of the Congress of Vienna. As prime minister 1828–30, he was forced to concede Roman Catholic emancipation. He was made Viscount in 1809, Earl in 1812, Marquess in 1812, and Duke in 1814.

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