WELLESLEY, RICH A RD COLLEY WELLESLEY, Marquis (1760-1842). A British administrator of India. He was the eldest son of Garret Wellesley. first Earl of Mornimtton. and hrother of the Duke of Wellimrton. He was born at Dang,an Castle, Ireland. and was educated at narrow, Eton, and Christ Church, Oxford, but never took a degree. on account of his father's death in 1781, which compelled him to end his studies. In 1784 he entered the English House of commons, and in 1793 became a member of the Board of Control of Indian Affairs. On the resignation of Lord Cornwallis in 1707. Wellesley cvas appointed Governor-General of India. lie immediately concluded several treaties with the powerful native rulers, which assured either their alliance 111* neutrality in the impending struggle with France. In 1709 Mysore. the vonntry of the hostile Tim] Sahib. son of Hyder was invaded by a British foree, and in a very short time the dreaded Sultan was oierthrown. Wellesley now established several dependent principalities, it procedure wide]) he• came for a long time the British policy in deal ing IA Ph the native States. As a reward for his ,ervices he was (Tented Marquis W?11(-41ey in 1 poorage. Ile extended British rule in many direction:, and also paid much attention to the internal affair- of the piotisim province:. The INIaliratta War of 1803.05 was marked by the victories of Arthur Wellesley, Lake. and others.
The administration of the Marquis of Wellesley terminated in 1805. In 1809 he was sent as envoy to Spain, and in the same year he became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under Perceval. Ile acquitted himself well in the many important negotiations that required his attention. After Perceval's assassination in 1812 he tried to form an administration of his own, but in vain. Until 1821 Wellesley remained out of office, and was usually in opposition, believing that it would Inure been better to allow Napoleon to continue to rule, though with restricted power. In 1821 he accepted the position of Lord Lieu tenant of Ireland, and was at first well received by all parties, but when he sought to reconcile Catholics and Protestants, he aroused the opposi tion of the Orangemen. lie resigned in 1828, but held the same office again in 1833-34. He re tired to private life, and died September 26, 1842. He was one of the greatest colonial ad ministrators Great 'Britain has ever had, and together with Dalhousie and Hastings firmly established the British power in India. Con sult: Martin, Despatches, Minutes, and Corre spondence of the live//c.siey During His Administration in. India (5 vols., London, 1S36) ; 'Hutton. The Marquis Wellesley (Oxford, 1893). See INDIA.