I get an “This week in History” email every week from the Cultural Experience tour company.
Thought I would share.
On 1st May 1769 in Dublin a son, Arthur, was born to the Earl and Countess of Mornington. Although there is some dispute as to the precise date of his birth, what few would doubt is that Arthur Wellesley grew to become Britain’s most celebrated military hero. Remarkably, as a child young Arthur showed little promise, his mother commenting: “He is food for powder and nothing more”. Wellesley’s military career flourished as he grasped the importance of discipline, diplomacy, intelligence gathering, manoeuvring and secure supply lines. Promoted to Major-General in 1802, he showed significant panache in the Peninsula War and at Salamanca (1812) established his reputation as an offensive general. After destroying the French army at Vittoria (1813), he received his Field-Marshall’s baton and after his arch-foe Napoleon abdicated in 1814 was granted a peerage, becoming Duke of Wellington. Wellington cemented his reputation as Britain’s foremost general at Waterloo (1815), although his victory was achieved with Prussian help. His obituary in The Times on his death in 1852 stated: “His career was one un-clouded longest day.”
Thought I would share.
On 1st May 1769 in Dublin a son, Arthur, was born to the Earl and Countess of Mornington. Although there is some dispute as to the precise date of his birth, what few would doubt is that Arthur Wellesley grew to become Britain’s most celebrated military hero. Remarkably, as a child young Arthur showed little promise, his mother commenting: “He is food for powder and nothing more”. Wellesley’s military career flourished as he grasped the importance of discipline, diplomacy, intelligence gathering, manoeuvring and secure supply lines. Promoted to Major-General in 1802, he showed significant panache in the Peninsula War and at Salamanca (1812) established his reputation as an offensive general. After destroying the French army at Vittoria (1813), he received his Field-Marshall’s baton and after his arch-foe Napoleon abdicated in 1814 was granted a peerage, becoming Duke of Wellington. Wellington cemented his reputation as Britain’s foremost general at Waterloo (1815), although his victory was achieved with Prussian help. His obituary in The Times on his death in 1852 stated: “His career was one un-clouded longest day.”