Arthur Wellesley, 5th Duke Of Wellington

Arthur Charles Wellesley, 5th Duke of Wellington, was born on 9 June 1876 and died on 11 December 1941. He was a member of the British nobility and a landowner. Initially known as Arthur Wellesley from his birth until 1900, he was styled as Marquess of Douro from 1900 until 1934, when he inherited the dukedom.

**Family Background and Education**

He was the son of Arthur Charles Wellesley, the youngest son of Lord Charles Wellesley, and Kathleen Bulkeley Williams. His father became the 4th Duke of Wellington in 1900 following the death of his elder brother, thereby inheriting substantial Wellington estates. Arthur Wellesley attended Eton College from 1890 to 1895 and subsequently studied at Trinity College, Cambridge.

**Military Service**

Wellesley's military career commenced with a commission as a lieutenant in the 4th (Militia) battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment on 7 July 1897. He served as Aide-de-camp to the Earl of Ranfurly, then-Governor of New Zealand. During the Second Boer War, which began in late 1899, he joined the regular army as a second lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards on 17 January 1900. In March 1900, he joined a detachment bound for South Africa to reinforce the 3rd battalion engaged in the conflict. His service in South Africa continued until July 1902, concluding after the war's end, and he resigned his commission in 1903. During World War I, he returned to active service as a temporary reserve second lieutenant in 1915 and relinquished his commission in 1919, retaining the rank of second lieutenant. In 1934, he inherited the dukedom and became the 5th Duke of Wellington. He also served as a justice of the peace.

**Political and Ideological Involvement**

The 5th Duke of Wellington was involved in politics and various ideological activities. From 1935, he was a supporter of the Anglo-German Fellowship, an organization that promoted closer links between Britain and Germany, often viewed as far-right aligned. He served as President of the Liberty Restoration League, which was characterized by antisemitic tendencies, as noted by Inspector Pavey, an ex-Scotland Yard detective. In 1939, he chaired the early meetings of the 'Right Club,' founded by Archibald Maule Ramsay. Ramsay characterized the club's primary goal as opposing and exposing what he termed "organised Jewry." At the outbreak of World War II, reports indicated that the Duke attributed the war to "anti-appeasers and the fucking Jews."

**Marriage and Family**

On 23 March 1909, Wellesley married Lilian Maud Glen Coats at St George's, Hanover Square. Lilian was the daughter of George Coats, who later became the 1st Baron Glentanar. The wedding reception was held at the Coats family's London residence at 11 Hill Street, Mayfair. Lilian Coats was an heiress with an annual settlement exceeding £10,000; her father had accumulated a fortune as a self-made businessman, and upon his death in 1919, his estate was valued at over £4 million. The couple had two children: Lady Anne Wellesley (1910–1998), who married Hon. David Rhys, and Captain Henry Wellesley, who became the 6th Duke of Wellington (1912–1943).

**Death**

The 5th Duke of Wellington died of pneumonia at his residence, 20 Devonshire Place, London. His probate was valued at £134,262 in 1942.