Duke of Wellington

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Arms of Dukes of Wellington

The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title and the senior rank in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), the noted Irish-born British career officer and statesman, and unqualified references to the Duke of Wellington almost always refer to him. He is most famous for, together with Blücher, defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. The Wellesley family are, in origin, an Anglo-Irish aristocratic dynasty.

[edit] History

The titles of Duke of Wellington and Marquess Douro were bestowed upon Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, on May 11, 1814. The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Wellington are: Marquess of Wellington (1812), Marquess Douro (1814), Earl of Mornington (1760 - but only inherited by the Dukes of Wellington in 1863), Earl of Wellington (1812), Viscount Wellesley (1760 - inherited in 1863), Viscount Wellington (1809), Baron Mornington (1746 - also inherited in 1863), and Baron Douro (1809). The Viscountcy of Wellesley and the Barony and Earldom of Mornington are in the Peerage of Ireland; the rest are in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

The Dukes of Wellington also hold the foreign titles of Prince of Waterloo (Orange dynasty's United Kingdom of the Netherlands, after the battle field in the part that would became Belgium, 1815), Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo (Spain, 1812), Duque de Vitória ("Duke of the Victory" -- Portugal 1812) and Marquês de Torres Vedras ("Marquis of Torres Vedras" -- Portugal, 1812) and Conde de Vimeiro ("Count of Vimeiro" -- Portugal, 1811). These were conferred on the first Duke as victory titles for his distinguished services as victorious commanding general in the Peninsular War (in Spain and Portugal) and at the Battle of Waterloo.

The family seat is Stratfield Saye, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. Apsley House, in London, is now owned by English Heritage, although the family retain an apartment there.

[edit] List of Dukes of Wellington (1814)

1st Duke of Wellington

The current heir-apparent to the title is the 8th Duke's son Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro (b. August 19, 1945).

His son and heir-apparent is Arthur Gerald Wellesley, Earl of Mornington (b. January 31, 1978). Mornington is in the west of County Meath in the Republic of Ireland.