Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke Of Wellington

Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington (21 August 1885 – 4 January 1972), was an Anglo-Irish figure notable for his roles in diplomacy, military service, architecture, and authorship. He was styled Lord Gerald Wellesley from 1900 until 1943.

**Early Life and Education**

Born in Dublin, Ireland, he was the third son of Lord Arthur Wellesley, later the 4th Duke of Wellington, and Lady Arthur Wellesley (née Kathleen Bulkeley Williams). His baptism took place at St. Jude's Church, Kilmainham, Dublin, on 27 September 1885. Wellesley was educated at Eton College.

**Diplomatic and Military Career**

Wellesley's career in the Diplomatic Service began in 1908. He served as Third Secretary from 1910 to 1917 and as Second Secretary from 1917 to 1919. In 1921, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and in 1935, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Between 1936 and 1943, he served as Surveyor of the King's Works of Art.

During the Second World War, Wellesley fought from 1939 to 1945, gaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards. His diplomatic skills were regarded as valuable to the Allied efforts. His military service was characterized by a reputation for a somewhat austere demeanor, leading to the nickname "The Iron Duchess." In a 2022 account by Simon Heffer, it was noted that the nickname was also attributed to his being gay, according to Army colleagues.

**Peerage and Public Service**

In 1943, he inherited the titles of Duke of Wellington, Earl of Mornington, and Prince of Waterloo following the death of his nephew, Henry Wellesley. His nephew's additional title, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, was transferred to Henry's sister, Lady Anne Rhys, and later reassigned to Wellesley in 1949. Wellesley served as Lord Lieutenant of the County of London (1944–1949) and subsequently as Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (1949–1960). In 1951, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Garter. In 1953, he became the first Chancellor of the University of Southampton.

**Architectural Projects**

Wellesley's architectural endeavors include remodeling 5 Belgrave Square in London, the home of politician Chips Channon, and Kelvedon Hall in Essex. He collaborated with Trenwith Wills on remodeling Castle Hill in Devon, Hinton Ampner in Hampshire, Biddick Hall in County Durham, and St Mary and St George Church in High Wycombe. He also designed the Faringdon Folly tower for Lord Berners and constructed Portland House in Weymouth in 1935.

**Authorship**

He authored several books, including *The Iconography of the First Duke of Wellington* (1935), *The Diary of a Desert Journey* (1938), *The Journal of Mrs. Arbuthnot* (1950), and *A Selection from the Private Correspondence of the First Duke of Wellington* (1952).

**Wellington Museum and Family**

In 1947, Wellesley donated Apsley House and its prominent Wellington Collection to the nation through the Wellington Museum Act, retaining the right to occupy part of the residence for his family.

He married Dorothy Violet Ashton on 30 April 1914. Dorothy was from an affluent family involved in the cotton industry and was a poet. They had two children: Valerian Wellesley, who became the 8th Duke of Wellington, and Lady Elizabeth Wellesley. The marriage was unhappy and they separated in 1922 but never divorced; Dorothy was known to have been lesbian, with relationships including Vita Sackville-West and Hilda Matheson. Wellesley himself was rumored to be bisexual or homosexual, though there is no documented evidence of male lovers.

Following his wife’s death in 1956, he reportedly considered marrying his sister-in-law, Lady Serena James, but she declined. Wellesley died in early 1972, with his probate estate valued at approximately £529,260. He was succeeded by his son, Valerian Wellesley.