[b]The Duke of Wellington was a British soldier and
politician. He became a great hero in many countries after he defeated Napoleon
Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He later became prime minister of
Great Britain and Ireland during a period of great political debate.[/b]


[b][color:8c99=red]A SOLDIER IN INDIA[/color][/b]


[b]The Duke of Wellington was born Arthur Wellesley in
Ireland in 1769. He was educated in England and then attended a French military
school. In 1787 he became a professional soldier and joined the British army as
a junior officer. He fought in Europe during the early stages of the Napoleonic
Wars and was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1796 Wellesley was sent to
India where he commanded British troops in fighting against Indian rulers. He
won several important victories including the Battle of Assaye in 1803.[/b]


[b][color:8c99=red]THE PENINSULAR WAR[/color][/b]


[b]He returned to Britain in 1805 where he was knighted as
a reward for his services in India, and in 1806 he became a Member of
Parliament. In 1808 Arthur Wellesley was put in command of the British forces
sent to fight the French in Spain and Portugal. This part of the Napoleonic
Wars is known as the Peninsular War. In 1809 he forced the French army to
retreat to Madrid, but was forced to retreat himself when they counterattacked
in the following year.[/b]


[b][color:8c99=red]THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO[/color][/b]


[b]In 1812 he went on the attack again and won a
decisive victory at the Battle of Salamanca. Further British victories drove
the French out of Spain and helped to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte for the first
time in 1814. As a reward for his victories Arthur Wellesley was given the
title of Duke of Wellington. In 1815 Napoleon escaped from exile and seized
control of France. The British government put Wellington in command of the
troops they sent against Napoleon. His victory over Napoleon at the Battle of
Waterloo increased Wellington's fame and prestige.[/b]


[b][color:8c99=red] WELLINGTON
AS PRIME MINISTER [/color][/b]


[b]In 1818 Wellington became a senior minister in the
government, and in 1828 King George IV appointed him prime minister. The next
year he forced Parliament to pass the Catholic Emancipation Act, which made
life easier for Catholics in Britain. This policy was very unpopular with many
people, including the king, and Wellington resigned in 1830. Wellington also
spoke out against parliamentary reform. He believed that if more people were
given the vote there would be a revolution in Britain. This made Wellington so
unpopular that people threw bricks at the windows of his house. Despite this,
when he died in 1852 he was given a hero’s funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral in
London.[/b]


[b]Microsoft
® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.[/b]