Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852) by Wu Wenjie
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personality pro le 81 Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852) by Wu WenJie INTRODUCTION as an aide-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, before Arthur Wellesley was an Anglo- being promoted to Lieutenant Irish general and statesman, victor in the same year. During that of the Waterloo Campaign and twice period, Wellington was involved British Prime Minister. Known as in social activities with his the 1st Duke of Wellington or, Duke superior, playing with his violin of Wellington, he is most famous and unfortunately, indulged in for his major role in the Napoleonic gambling.3 Wellington’s life took th wars during the 19 century. a complete change when he fell in love with Catherine Pakenham, EARLY LIFE daughter to the 2nd Baron Longford. Arthur Wesley was born in In 1793, Wellington's proposal Dublin on 1st May 1769 to the 1st was turned down by Catherine’s Earl and Countess of Mornington. brother, Thomas Pakenham, who In 1798, he changed his surname to considered him a poor man who Wellesley.1 As the third son in the had no goals in his life, un tting family, he was not as exemplary to the status of Catherine and the 4 as his brothers. The young duke Pakenham family. This spurred was not a promising student at the young duke to reconsider his Eton back then; he was withdrawn current lifestyle and thus began to and sent to private classes in pursue his military career. Brussels, followed by a military MILITARY CAREER school—the French Royal Academy of Equitation in Angers.2 During Defeat in Flanders his time in Angers, he was taught Having purchased lieutenant various skills such as riding, colonelcy in September 1793, fencing, mathematics, literature, Wellington set sail for Flanders as well as French. Wellington also in his very rst battle experience expressed interest in music and he against the French forces. During took up violin as a specialisation. the campaign, assisting the Duke of York, he realised that the Following his mother’s advice, communications and order of the Wellington joined the army in troops and its generals were very March 1787 and with the help of disorganised. Wellington treated his brother, Richard Wellesley, this as a lesson on 'what one ought Wellington was attached to the not to do. The British eventually 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot lost the battle.5 POINTER, JOURNAL OF THE SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES VOL.40 NO.4 8 AmendedPersonality Profile-Arthur Wellesley .indd 81 12/12/2014 11:02 personality prole 82 FOURTH ANGLO-MYSORE WAR before attacking again. By the as The Treaty of Bassein. While following day, Wellington’s forces Following the defeat in the EIC was negotiating with managed to secure Sultanpettah Flanders, Wellington returned the Marathas, Wellington's army and the forces marched towards to England in March 1795 before marched towards the Scindia’s Seringapatam. Wellington was setting sail for India in May 1796. stronghold in Ahmednagar. The then deployed as a reserve to His brother, Richard, was then Marathas felt that the British support the siege of Seringapatam. the Governor-General of India. should not be involved in their On 4th May, Tipu Sultan was killed To extend the rule of the British affairs and refused to submit to and Seringapatam was captured. East India Company (EIC) over the EIC. When negotiations fell, India, Richard ordered the capture Wellington's forces took over When Seringapatam was taken of Seringapatam, a city located Ahmednagar. over, the troops were given the north of Mysore. Wellington took liberty of plundering the town and Wellington then received part in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore the native citizens cowered in fear intelligence about enemies War against Tipu Sultan, ruler of as the whole town was in chaos. stationed at the village of Assaye. the Kingdom of Mysore. During In response to this, Wellington He personally scouted the Maratha the preparation for the war, instilled order and discipline as he camp and discovered a huge Wellington took charge of logistics called for troops to be stationed in army. The Scindia had allied with and understood the importance the town and hanged some of the the Raja of Berar, forming an of managing and securing supply plunderers.8 The plundering soon extensive force of an estimated lines.6 stopped and the people returned 40,000 to 200,000 men.11 Though to their homes in peace. Within War broke out on Mallavelly, severely outnumbered, Wellington days, the town became lively once rd where the Sultan’s army tried to fought the Marathas Army on 23 more, with thriving businesses attack the invaders. Fortunately, September 1803. and crowds lling up the streets. they failed. Wellington’s 33rd Wellington displayed excellent The Marathas Army deployed regiment assisted the forces of attributes of a commander and artillery and cavalry units at the General George Harris against the along with the recognition of his front line against Wellington’s Sultan’s army and drove them to contributions, he was made the forces. Using the terrain to his retreat from Mallavelly, back into Governor of Seringapatam and advantage, Wellington’s forces Seringapatam. The forces of General Mysore.9 concealed themselves on the Harris and Wellington arrived at reverse slopes of the grounds Seringapatam in 1799 and began Battle of Assaye to avoid taking damage from their siege on the outlying village In 1802, rivalry between the artillery. At close range, of Sultanpettah. The attack proved factions of the Maratha Wellington’s infantry charged to be unsuccessful due to the fact Confederacy initiated a war.10 and broke through the Marathas that it was utter darkness when The Holkars attacked Scindia front line. As Wellington’s forces they commenced the attack and and Peshwas, forcing Baji Rao II, advanced, some of the Marathas the soldiers were ghting against Peshwa of Pune to ee. Baji Rao gunners feigned death. They the Sultan’s forces that were II sought the help of the EIC to surprised the British by attacking already prepared for their attack.7 restore his throne and agreed to from the rear. In response to this, Wellington was decisive and made submit to the EIC’s authority in Wellington deployed his cavalry the right choice—to retreat and exchange. The Peshwa then signed to break apart their gun line and scout his enemies’ positions a treaty with the British, known ensured that no gunners were POINTER, JOURNAL OF THE SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES VOL.40 NO.4 8 AmendedPersonality Profile-Arthur Wellesley .indd 82 12/12/2014 11:02 personality prole 83 left alive. The battle of Assaye short-lived as he was called back During the battle of Toulouse, only lasted for a few hours. to active service against Napoleon the United Kingdom and France Despite being outnumbered by Bonaparte, Emperor of France.14 incurred huge amount of the Marathas, Wellingon’s forces casualties.15 News of Napoleon's France had allied with Spain managed to drive the Marathas abdication nally reached and invaded Portugal in 1807. army to retreat and emerged as Wellington and his opponent, the grand victor, with casualties In response to the attacks, the Marshal General of the French Army, of his army close to 1,600, out British decided to intervene to Jean-de-Dieu Soult. The battle was of 6,000 men, while the Marathas stop Napoleon from expanding. In put to an end by Marshal Soult who Army had 5,000 men.12 Wellington’s 1808, Wellington’s forces defeated realised that there was no longer experience in the eld, along the French army in the Battle of a purpose to continue ghting. with his leadership qualities and Napoleon was then sent to exile Vimeiro and with England and calmness, led his men to believe on Elba in 1814 while Wellington Portugal joining forces, the Anglo- that victory was possible. By the returned to England and was Portuguese Army was formed with end of 1803, Scindia and Berar granted a dukedom, making him surrendered to the EIC. The Battle Wellington as its Commander-in- the rst Duke of Wellington. of Assaye was said to be nest Chief. Battle of Waterloo achievement for Wellington and his rst major victory in battle In 1809, France once again Napoleon, who was unwilling to history. invaded Portugal. Wellington, in spend the remainder of his days on command of the Anglo-Portuguese Elba, escaped and landed in Cannes, st Throughout his years in India, Army, engaged the French forces France on 1 March 1815. Troops Wellington gained the experience who were still loyal to Napoleon in the Battle of Porto. The battle and qualities of a commander that defected to him and they marched ended with Wellington’s victory would later allow him to excel in into Paris on 19th March where he and the French forces retreated his future battles—leadership, took command and drove out Louis into Spain. With Spain, England and decision-making, discipline, care XVIII, King of France, in an attempt for soldiers, careful planning and Portugal ghting against France, to regain power. At that point of preparations, military strategy and Wellington led the Allied Army time, Wellington had already been maintaining diplomatic relations and liberated Portugal and Madrid, sent to the Congress of Vienna as an with civilians. When Wellington the Spanish capital. In 1812, the Ambassador of Great Britain. Upon requested to return to England in Sixth Coalition was formed—this hearing the news, the ambassadors 1804, he was made Knight of The included Austria, Prussia, Russia, of the allied countries declared Bath for his contributions. the United Kingdom, Portugal, Napoleon as an outlaw.16 Leaving Vienna, Wellington became the Peninsular Wars Sweden, Spain and several other German States.