Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, (born 2 July 1915), styled Marquess Douro between 1943 and 1972, is a senior British peer and a retired Brigadier in the British Army
. He lost his membership of the House of Lords
in the election under the House of Lords Act 1999
.
Apart from his British titles, he holds the hereditary titles of 8th Prince of Waterloo
(Prins van Waterloo) of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
, and 8th Duke of the Victory
(Duque da Vitória) of the Kingdom of Portugal
with its subsidiary titles Marquis of Torres Vedras (Marquês de Torres Vedras) and Count of Vimeiro (Conde de Vimeiro). These were granted to the first Duke
as victory title
s for his distinguished services as victorious commanding general in the Peninsular War
(in Spain and Portugal), and at the Battle of Waterloo
(in what is now Belgium).
The 8th Duke of Wellington was also the 9th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo (Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo) of the Kingdom of Spain, but on 10 March 2010 he ceded the Spanish Dukedom to his eldest child, Charles Wellesley, Marquess of Douro. In accordance with Spanish procedure, the Marquess made formal claim to the title with the Spanish authorities. King Juan Carlos of Spain
, through his minister, granted the succession of the dukedom to the Marquess of Douro by Royal Decree on 21 May 2010, reported officially in the Official Bulletin of State
for 12 June 2010.
, Italy
, the son of Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington
, and Dorothy Violet
, daughter of Robert Ashton. He was known by his courtesy title
Marquess Douro from 1943 when his father succeeded in the dukedom on the death of his nephew. He attended Eton
and New College
, Oxford
.
with the Royal Horse Guards
. He was awarded the Military Cross
in 1941. He eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding that regiment in 1954. He then moved to the Household Cavalry Regiment
, which he began commanding in 1959. He commanded the 22nd Armoured Brigade (1960–1961), served in the British Army of the Rhine
, and became defence attaché
to Spain
in 1964. He retired from the Army in 1968 as a Brigadier.
Wellington has also been involved in business as a Director of Massey Ferguson Holdings
Ltd from 1967 to 1989 and of Motor Iberica SA (Spain) from 1967 to 1999. In 1975 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
of Hampshire
.
(MVO) in 1952 and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1958. In 1990 he was further honoured when he was made a Knight of the Garter
. His foreign honours include being appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honour of France
, a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael of the Wing of Portugal
and a Member of the Order of Isabel La Catolica of Spain
. He is also an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
. FKC.
) of the Yorkshire Regiment
, Deputy Colonel (to HRH The Princess Royal
) of The Blues and Royals and an Honorary Colonel of the 2nd Battalion
, Wessex Regiment
.
Wellington was twice engaged to Lady Rose Paget
, the daughter of Charles Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey
, who eventually married the Hon. John McLaren
. On 28 January 1944 he married Diana Ruth McConnel
(1921–2010), only daughter of Major-General Douglas Fitzgerald McConnel CB
, CBE
, of Knockdolian, Colmonell
, Ayr
, at St. George's Cathedral
in Jerusalem. They had five children:
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, (born 2 July 1915), styled Marquess Douro between 1943 and 1972, is a senior British peer and a retired Brigadier in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. He lost his membership of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in the election under the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
.
Apart from his British titles, he holds the hereditary titles of 8th Prince of Waterloo
Prince of Waterloo
Prince of Waterloo is one of the highest-ranking Dutch titles of nobility, retained by the Duke of Wellington.The title was given by King William I of the Netherlands, of the then recently united Low Countries, to Field Marshal The 1st Duke of Wellington as a victory title in recognition of...
(Prins van Waterloo) of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
, and 8th Duke of the Victory
Duque da Vitória
Duque da Vitória is a Portuguese title of nobility retained by the Duke of Wellington.The title was created by Prince Regent John of Portugal on 18 December 1812 to honour the British General Arthur Wellesley, who was the general commander of the armies that eventually defeated the troops of...
(Duque da Vitória) of the Kingdom of Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
with its subsidiary titles Marquis of Torres Vedras (Marquês de Torres Vedras) and Count of Vimeiro (Conde de Vimeiro). These were granted to the first Duke
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
as victory title
Victory title
A victory title is an honorific title adopted by a successful military commander to commemorate his defeat of an enemy nation. This practice was first used by Ancient Rome and is still most commonly associated with the Romans, but it has also been adopted as a practice by many modern empires,...
s for his distinguished services as victorious commanding general in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
(in Spain and Portugal), and at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
(in what is now Belgium).
The 8th Duke of Wellington was also the 9th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo (Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo) of the Kingdom of Spain, but on 10 March 2010 he ceded the Spanish Dukedom to his eldest child, Charles Wellesley, Marquess of Douro. In accordance with Spanish procedure, the Marquess made formal claim to the title with the Spanish authorities. King Juan Carlos of Spain
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
, through his minister, granted the succession of the dukedom to the Marquess of Douro by Royal Decree on 21 May 2010, reported officially in the Official Bulletin of State
Boletín Oficial del Estado
The Boletín Oficial del Estado , Spanish for Official Bulletin of the State, is the official gazette of the Government of Spain. It publishes the laws of the Cortes Generales and the dispositions of the Autonomous Communities...
for 12 June 2010.
Background and education
Wellington was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the son of Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington
Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington
Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, KG , styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943, was a British diplomat, soldier, and architect....
, and Dorothy Violet
Dorothy Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington
Dorothy Violet Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington , styled Lady Gerald Wellesley between 1914 and 1943, was an English socialite, author, poet, and literary editor...
, daughter of Robert Ashton. He was known by his courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
Marquess Douro from 1943 when his father succeeded in the dukedom on the death of his nephew. He attended Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Career
Wellington joined the British Army, serving in the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the Royal Horse Guards
Royal Horse Guards
The Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1941. He eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding that regiment in 1954. He then moved to the Household Cavalry Regiment
Household Cavalry Regiment
The Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
, which he began commanding in 1959. He commanded the 22nd Armoured Brigade (1960–1961), served in the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
, and became defence attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1964. He retired from the Army in 1968 as a Brigadier.
Wellington has also been involved in business as a Director of Massey Ferguson Holdings
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Canada before its purchase by AGCO. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was...
Ltd from 1967 to 1989 and of Motor Iberica SA (Spain) from 1967 to 1999. In 1975 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
Honours
Wellington was made a Member of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO) in 1952 and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1958. In 1990 he was further honoured when he was made a Knight of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
. His foreign honours include being appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honour of France
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael of the Wing of Portugal
Order of Saint Michael of the Wing
The Pontifical, Royal and Distinguished Order of Saint Michael of the Wing is the oldest Portuguese order of knighthood. Unlike many other Portuguese orders, it has not been nationalized as a decoration of the state by the post-1910 Portuguese Republic, and as a result the Duke of Braganza remains...
and a Member of the Order of Isabel La Catolica of Spain
Order of Isabel the Catholic
The Order of Isabella the Catholic is a Spanish civil order granted in recognition of services that benefit the country. The Order is not exclusive to Spaniards, and many foreigners have been awarded it....
. He is also an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. FKC.
Honorary appointments
Wellington is Deputy Colonel-in-Chief (to HRH The Duke of YorkPrince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
) of the Yorkshire Regiment
Yorkshire Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire covering the historical areas...
, Deputy Colonel (to HRH The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
) of The Blues and Royals and an Honorary Colonel of the 2nd Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, Wessex Regiment
Wessex Regiment
The Wessex Regiment was a Territorial Army infantry regiment of the British Army between 1971 and 1995. It had two battalions: The 1st Bn with its headquarters at Le Marchant Barracks in Devizes and the 2nd Bn which was headquartered at Brock Barracks in Reading...
.
Family
Lady Rose McLaren
The Lady Rose Mary Primrose McLaren was a British aristocrat, the fourth daughter of the 6th Marquess of Anglesey....
, the daughter of Charles Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey
Charles Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey
Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey GCVO was a British peer.Paget was born in 1885, the son of Lord Alexander Paget, was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst and in 1905 he succeeded as Marquess of Anglesey on the demise of his childless cousin, the 5th...
, who eventually married the Hon. John McLaren
John Francis McLaren
John Francis McLaren was a Royal Air Force officer. He was the younger son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway and Christabel MacNaghten.-Career:...
. On 28 January 1944 he married Diana Ruth McConnel
Diana Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington
Diana Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington, Baroness Douro MBE was the wife of Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, and a British intelligence officer in her own right during World War II....
(1921–2010), only daughter of Major-General Douglas Fitzgerald McConnel CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, of Knockdolian, Colmonell
Colmonell
Colmonell is a small village in the Stinchar Valley, South Ayrshire. The nearest town is Girvan, ten miles away.The River Stinchar runs through the valley and the Colmonell area boasts three ruined castles: Craigneil Castle , Kirkhill Castle and Knockdolian Castle .The village has a small primary...
, Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, at St. George's Cathedral
St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem
thumb|rightSt. George's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Jerusalem, established in 1899. It is the seat of the Bishop of Jerusalem of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East....
in Jerusalem. They had five children:
- Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro, 10th Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo (b. 19 August 1945), married to the Princess Antonia of PrussiaPrincess Antonia, Marchioness of DouroPrincess Antonia of Prussia, Marchioness of Douro, Duchess of Ciudad Rodrigo, OBE , is a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.-Biography:...
and has issue, two sons, three daughters, two granddaughters and two grandsons. - Lord Richard Gerald Wellesley (b. 20 June 1949), who lives on his maternal grandfather's estate Knockdolian; he married 1973 (div) Joanna Marion Sumner, daughter of John Sumner of Marston St. Lawrence, and has issue, two daughters, Davinia Chloe (b. 1977) and Natasha Doone (b. 1981).
- Lady (Caroline) Jane Wellesley (b. 6 July 1951), film producer and author; who is unmarried.
- Lord John Henry Wellesley (b. 20 April 1954), married 1977 Corinne Vaes, daughter of Robert Vaes, a Belgian diplomat, and has issue, one son Gerald Valerian born in 1981 and one daughter Alexandrina Sofia born in 1983.
- Lord James Christopher Douglas Wellesley (b. 16 December 1964), married 1994 (divorced 2005) as her second husband, Laura Elizabeth Wedge, daughter of a property magnate, and has issue, 1 daughter, Eleanor (b. 1995). He is now married (as of 26 July 2005) to his daughter's former teacher Emma Nethercott.