Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke Of Wellington

Arthur Richard Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington (born 3 February 1807; died 13 August 1884), was a British soldier and politician. He was the eldest son of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and the Honourable Catherine Sarah Dorothea "Kitty" Pakenham, daughter of Edward Pakenham, 2nd Baron Longford, and had at least one younger brother, Lord Charles Wellesley. His uncles included Lord Wellesley, Lord Mornington, and Lord Cowley.

Born at Harley Street, Marylebone, London, Wellesley received his education at Temple Grove School, Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was known by courtesy titles during his youth: Lord Douro when his father was created Earl of Wellington in 1812, and Marquess of Douro after his father was elevated to a dukedom in 1814.

His military career began with his enlistment as an ensign in the 81st Regiment of Foot in 1823. He subsequently served in several regiments, including the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, Royal Horse Guards, King's Royal Rifle Corps, and Rifle Brigade. His ranks advanced through various promotions: cornet, lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant-colonel, and brevet colonel, culminating in the rank of major-general in 1854. Wellesley was an advocate of the Volunteer movement and served as lieutenant-colonel of the Victoria Rifles (Middlesex).

Wellesley's political career commenced with his election to Parliament as a Member of Parliament for the rotten borough of Aldeburgh in 1829, serving until the borough's abolition in 1832. He was later returned as MP for Norwich in 1837. Following his father's death in 1852, he succeeded to the dukedom and entered the House of Lords. In early 1853, he was sworn into the Privy Council and appointed Master of the Horse in Lord Aberdeen’s coalition government, a position he held under Lord Palmerston until 1858. He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1858.

In 1863, he inherited the earldom of Mornington upon the death of his cousin William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley. From 1868 until his death in 1884, he served as Lord-Lieutenant of Middlesex.

He married Lady Elizabeth Hay, daughter of Field Marshal George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale, in 1839. The marriage produced no children and was considered unhappy. Upon succeeding his father, he is reputed to have commented on the fame of his father as: "Imagine what it will be when the Duke of Wellington is announced, and only I walk in the room." He died at Brighton railway station in Sussex in 1884 at the age of 77 and was buried at Stratfield Saye House, Hampshire. His probate was valued at £171,356.

His widow, Lady Elizabeth, died in 1904 at Bearhill (Burhill) Park, Hersham, Surrey, aged 83, and was buried alongside him. She left assets valued at £13,997. Wellesley owned approximately 19,000 acres, of which about 15,000 acres were in Hampshire.

In literary history, the Brontë family depicted him and his sons in stories set in Africa, with Charlotte Brontë portraying him as Charles in her writings, and elements of his character being incorporated into the character of Edward Rochester in "Jane Eyre." Thomas Raikes, a merchant banker and diarist, was a childhood friend and traveled companion of Wellesley; his private correspondence was published in 1861.

Throughout his life, Wellesley's style evolved from "Arthur Richard Wellesley, Esq." to "His Grace The Duke of Wellington" and later to the distinctions recognizing his peerage and titles in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and foreign entities such as the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal.

References and external links include Hansard records of parliamentary contributions from 1803 to 2005.