The Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wesley was born in Dublin, the family then changed their surname to Wellesley in 1798. Although he was not an excellent student at Eton he found his calling when he joined the army in 1787. He fought the French in 1796 then went to India where his brother had been appointed as Governor General. Returning to England, he was knighted and became an MP. In 1807 Wellesley was appointed secretary for Ireland but cut his parliamentary career short, returning to active service against the French, taking control of the British, Portuguese and Spanish forces. These armies forced the French to withdraw and once Napoleon abdicated in 1814, Wellesley returned to England, a hero.
His career took him back to the Tory government and in 1827 became commander in chief of the British army. In 1828 he became a reluctant Prime Minister. However his strong government beliefs made many enemies and was given the nickname ‘Iron Duke’ as he erected iron shutters around his home in London. Wellington’s government collapsed, but when in 1834 they returned the prime minister’s job went to Robert Peel, Wellington serving as foreign minister between 1834-5, retiring in 1846. On his death in 1852 he was given a state funeral.