R-64 DUKE OF WELLINGTON, 1815

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was born in April 1769 (he was therefore born in the same year as Napoleon) and died in September 1852. He was probably the best British officer during the wars with revolutionary France and Napoleon (1792-1815) and later Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1828-1830 and 1834. Arthur Wellesley attended the school in Eton in 1781-1784, and after graduating from this school - with poor results - he attended the French war academy in Angers in 1784-1786. A year later, in 1787, he joined the British army. Initially, he served in Ireland, but took part in activities in the Netherlands. In 1796 he was promoted to the rank of colonel. Later he served in India, where he took part in the siege in 1799 Seringapatam , and in 1803 - at the Battle of Assaya. After the campaign in India, he was directed to the Iberian, where he gained considerable and well-deserved fame, efficiently commanding British troops fighting in this area. He was also able to win victories over French troops, the most important of which was won in 1813 at Vitoria. It was also the Duke of Wellington who commanded the British forces at the Battle of Waterloo, where he was instrumental in the Allied victory over Napoleon. After the Napoleonic Wars ended, he devoted himself to political life to a large extent, being associated with the conservative party.