WELLINGTON. Arthur Wesley or Wellesley, Field-Marshall the Duke of Wellington; was a distinguished soldier, and an illustration of the importance to a commander of an acquaintance with the civil occupation of a statesman. On the 7th of March 1787 he received his first commis sion as an ensign in the 73d Regiment of Foot In May 1794, being then in his 26th year, in command of the 33d Regiment, he embarked at Cork for service on the continent of Europe. In the spring of 1796, the 33d received directions to embark for Bengal. In February 1797, Arthur Wellesley landed at Calcutta. Immediately on his arrival, Colonel Wellesley was despatched upon an expedition directed against Manilla, but by the time that the several vessels had arrived at their first rendezvous the war against Tipu Sultan was determined- on, and they were over taken by a peremptory recall. The 33d was transferred from Bengal and placed upon the Madras Establishment. And on this new scene of duty Colonel Wellesley arrived in September 1708. The commander-in-chief at Madras was General, afterwards Lord Harris, under whose auspices Colonel Wellesley was stationed at Wal lajahbad.
The whole force against Tipu by the end of February 1799 had penetrated into the dominions of Mysore. The first action of importance took place near Malavelly, within thirty miles of Seringapatam. The British commander received Tiles attack with the right wing of the army, leaving the left, which was composed of the Nizarn's contingent under Colonel Wellesley, to charge and turn the flank of the enemy opposed to it. Colonel Wellesley's dispositions for this assault were speedily made, and, havino• been approved by General Harris, were execute'd with complete success. Ile was then placed in com mand of a field force, with which Ile advanced to the north of the Peninsula of India, Ahniadnaggur. Pettah was taken by ass.sult on the llth August
1803, and the fort, long considered the key of the Dekhan, surrendered on the following day. Ile fought and won the battle of Assaye on the 23d September 1803 • 13erhanapore surrendered 16th October 1803 ; A.rgaum on the 28th November 1803 ; then the Gawilgarh hill fort was taken by his officer, General Stevenson, on the 14th Decem ber 1803 ; and on the 30th December a treaty of peace with Siudia was signed.
Major-General Wellesley was created an extra ' Knight Companion of the Bath, many addresses were presented to him by various public bodies in India, a splendid gold vase, valued at 1000 guineas, was given to him by the officers of his division of the Indian army, and a sword, worth X1000, was presented to him by the inhabitants of Calcutta. Sir Arthur embarked for England on the 10th of 3farch. On his arrival he WAS appointed to the command of the troops at Hastings ; and on the death of the Marquis Cornwallis, on the 5th of October 1805, to the colonelcy of the 33d. On the 8th of April he was sworn of His Majesty's I'rivy Council, and on the 10th of April 1806 he married Catherine, third daughter of the second Earl of Longford. In 1807, Sir Arthur accepted in the Portland administration the situation of Chief Secretary for Ireland, under the Duke of Richmond, but in taking office he had stipulated that his ministerial duties should not interfere with his professional ; and accordingly, in the summer of 1807, he was once more employed on active service. In the expedition to Denmark he held a post under Lord Cathcart. For his ser vices during this campaign he was publicly thanked in the Ilouse of Commons.
The renaaining part of his career was on the continent of Europe, and here he won higher honours, and he died 14th September 1852.