The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), the noted Irish born United Kingdom career officer and statesman, and unqualified references to the Duke of Wellington almost always refer to him. He is most famous for, together with Blücher, defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. The Wellesley family are, in origin, an Anglo-Irish aristocratic dynasty.
History
The titles of Duke of Wellington and Marquess Douro were bestowed upon Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, on 11 May 1814. The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Wellington are: Marquess of Wellington (1812), Marquess Douro (1814), Earl of Mornington (1760 – but only inherited by the Dukes of Wellington in 1863), Earl of Wellington (1812), Viscount Wellesley (1760 – inherited in 1863), Viscount Wellington (1809), Baron Mornington (1746 – also inherited in 1863), and Baron Douro (1809). The Viscountcy of Wellesley and the Barony and Earldom of Mornington are in the Peerage of Ireland; the rest are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
The Dukes of Wellington also hold the foreign titles of Prince of Waterloo (Orange dynasty's United Kingdom of the Netherlands, after the battlefield in the part that would became Belgium, 1815), Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo (Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain, 1812), Duque de Vitória (Duke of Victory, Portugal, 1812), Marquês de Torres Vedras (Marquis of Torres Vedras, Portugal, 1812) and Conde de Vimeiro (Count of Vimeiro, Portugal, 1811). These were granted to the first Duke as victory titles for his distinguished services as victorious commanding general in the Peninsular War (in Spain and Portugal) and at the Battle of Waterloo.
The family seat is Stratfield Saye House, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. Apsley House, in London, is now owned by English Heritage, although the family retain an apartment there.
List of Dukes of Wellington (1814)
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), third son of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington
- Arthur Richard Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington (1807–1884)
- Henry Wellesley, 3rd Duke of Wellington (1846–1900)
- Arthur Charles Wellesley, 4th Duke of Wellington (1849–1934)
- Arthur Charles Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington (1876–1941)
- Henry Valerian George Wellesley, 6th Duke of Wellington (1912–43)
- Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington (1885–1972)
- Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington (b. 1915)
The current heir-apparent to the title is the 8th Duke's son Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro (b. 19 August 1945). His son and heir-apparent is Arthur Gerald Wellesley, Earl of Mornington (b. 31 January 1978). Lady Mornington is expecting twins in January 2010 — if one is a son, he will be born Viscount Wellesley (if both are, the eldest will).
External links
- Duke of Wellington's Regiment
- An Online Gotha - Wellington
- Duke of Wellington
- Genealogical information on the Dukes of Vitória
- Genealogical information on the Marquesses of Torres Vedras
- Genealogical information on the Counts of Vimeiro
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