Wellington: The Path to Victory, 1769–1814

777 Pages·2015·68.953 MB·English

by  Rory Muir

WELLINGTON
4160_01_Text.indd 1 31/08/13 3:07 PM
4160_01_Text.indd 2 31/08/13 3:07 PM

THE PATH TO VICTORY
1769–1814
RORY MUIR
YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW HAVEN AND LONDON
4160_01_Text.indd 3 31/08/13 3:07 PM
Published with assistance from the Annie Burr Lewis Fund
Copyright © 2013 Rory Muir
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form
(beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and
except by reviewers for the public press) without written permission from the publishers.
For information about this and other Yale University Press publications, please contact:
U.S. Office: [email protected] www.yalebooks.com
Europe Office: [email protected] www.yalebooks.co.uk
Set in Minion Pro by IDSUK (DataConnection) Ltd
Printed in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall
Library of Congress Cataloging-i n- Publication Data
Muir, Rory, 1962-
Wellington / Rory Muir.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0–300–18665–9 (v. 1: alk. paper) — ISBN 978–0–300–18786–1 (v. 2: alk.
paper)
1. Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769–1852. 2. Great Britain. Army—History.
3. Great Britain—History, Military—1789–1820. 4. Generals—Great Britain—
Biography. 5. Prime ministers—Great Britain—Biography. 6. Great Britain—Politics and
government—19th century. I. Title.
DA68.12.W4M85 2013
941.07092—dc23
[B]
2013018606
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
4160_01_Text.indd 4 31/08/13 3:07 PM

C
ONTENTS
List of Illustrations vii
List of Maps x
Preface xi
Prologue 1
Part I: Obscurity and Dependence 3
1 An Unsettled Childhood (1769–88) 5
2 Coming of Age in Ireland (1788–93) 12
3 Love and War (1792–96) 27
Part II: India and Independence 43
4 Arrival in India (1796–98) 45
5 Mornington and the Indian Scene 56
6 Seringapatam (1798–99) 65
7 The Mysore Years (1799–1802) 88
8 The Restoration of the Peshwa (1802–03) 106
9 The Maratha War (1803) 126
10 Farewell to India (1804–05) 150
Part III: War, Politics, Fame and Controversy 167
11 Return to England (September 1805–March 1807) 169
12 Chief Secretary for Ireland (1807) 189
4160_01_Text.indd 5 31/08/13 3:07 PM
vi CONTENTS
13 Copenhagen (July–September 1807) 208
14 Dublin and Westminster (October 1807–July 1808) 221
15 Vimeiro and Cintra (July–September 1808) 234
16 The Cintra Inquiry (September–December 1808) 264
17 Politics, Scandal and Wellesley’s Return to Portugal
(January–April 1809) 283
Part IV: Adversity and Triumph in the Peninsula 299
18 Oporto (April–May 1809) 301
19 Talavera (June–August 1809) 318
20 Misery on the Guadiana (August–December 1809) 345
21 Preparing for the Storm (December 1809–June 1810) 358
22 Busaco (July–September 1810) 377
23 Torres Vedras (October 1810–February 1811) 394
24 The Pursuit of Masséna (February–April 1811) 407
25 Fuentes de Oñoro (April–June 1811) 416
26 Ciudad Rodrigo (July 1811–January 1812) 436
27 Badajoz (February–April 1812) 446
28 Salamanca (April–July 1812) 458
29 Madrid and Burgos (July–November 1812) 478
30 Life at Headquarters 493
31 Vitoria (December 1812–June 1813) 517
32 The Pyrenees (July–September 1813) 537
33 Crossing the Frontier (September–December 1813) 553
34 Toulouse and the End of the War (January–April 1814) 566
Epilogue 590
Online Commentary 592
Digest and Chronology of Wellington’s Life and Career to 1814 594
Endnotes 599
Bibliography 675
Index 712
4160_01_Text.indd 6 31/08/13 3:07 PM

L I
IST OF LLUSTRATIONS
1 Silhouette of Arthur Wesley. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Stratfield Saye Preservation
Trust.
2 Dangan Castle, Ireland, title page of The Life and Times of the Late Duke of Wellington
. . . by William Freke Williams (c. 1850). Mary Evans Picture Library.
3 Benjamin Burnell (attrib.), Anne, Countess of Mornington (c. 1831). Courtesy of
Brynkinalt Hall.
4 John Downman, Richard Colley, Lord Mornington, afterwards Marquess Wellesley
(1785). © The Trustees of the British Museum.
5 Walter Robertson (attrib.), Young Officer of the 76th (c. 1787). Collection of Christopher
Bryant.
6 Unknown artist, after Sir Thomas Lawrence, Catherine Pakenham, Duchess of Wellington
(nineteenth century). Mary Evans Picture Library.
7 James Gillray, Fatigues of the Campaign in Flanders (1793). © The Trustees of the British
Museum.
8 Arthur William Devis, detail of Lieutenant-General George Harris, in a group portrait of
the Lushington and Harris families (c. 1802–03). Reproduced by kind permission of the
Trustees of the Harris (Belmont) Charity.
9 John Hoppner, Arthur Wesley, c. 1795. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Stratfield Saye
Preservation Trust.
10 Unknown artist, Tipu Sultan, Ruler of Mysore (1792). © The British Library Board.
11 Thomas Hickey, Purniya, Chief Minister of Mysore (c. 1801). Yale Center for British Art.
12 Laminet, colour aquatint after H. Singleton, The Assault and Taking of Seringapatam
(1799). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army Museum, London.
13 Jonathan Engleheart, engraving after Abraham Cooper, Colonel Maxwell’s Last Charge
at Assaye (1839). McGill University Napoleon Collection.
14 Thomas Hickey, Isabella Freese. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Stratfield Saye
Preservation Trust.
15 Henry Collen, after Henry Hoppner Meyer, Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
(1823). Private Collection / Photo © Christie’s Images / The Bridgeman Art Library.
16 Robert Home, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1804). © Crown copyright: UK
Government Art Collection.
17 John Hoppner, Portrait of Colonel Arthur Wellesley (1806). Courtesy of the Trustees of
the Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust.
18 Richard Cosway, miniature of Arthur Wellesley (1808). Victoria and Albert Museum,
London.
19 C.W. Eckersberg, The Bombardment of Copenhagen (1807). © KØbenhavns Museum.
20 Henri L’Evéque, The Landing of the British Army at Mondego Bay, 1808 (c. 1808).
Courtesy of the Council of the National Army Museum, London.
4160_01_Text.indd 7 31/08/13 3:07 PM
viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
21 Léon Mauduison, Jean- Andoche Junot (c. 1845). Private collection.
22 Unknown artist, Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult (1808). Hulton Archive / Stringer, Getty
Images.
23 Antoine- Jean Gros, Napoleon Accepting the Surrender of Madrid, 1808 (1809).
akg- images / VISIOARS.
24 George Landmann, Sir Arthur Wellesley’s Quarters, Vimeiro, 21st & 22nd of August,
1808, from Historical, Military, and Picturesque Observations on Portugal (1818), vol. 2,
p. 228.
25 John Jackson, Sir Hew Whitefoord Dalrymple, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
(c. 1800). © 2013 Guernsey Museums & Galleries (The States of Guernsey).
26 Unknown artist, after Sir William Beechey, Frederick, Duke of York (c. 1800–20). Royal
Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013.
27 Charles Williams, The last harvest or British Threshers makeing French crops (1808).
© The Trustees of the British Museum.
28 George Cruikshank, Whitlock the second or another tarnish of British valor (1808).
© The Trustees of the British Museum.
29 Sir Thomas Lawrence, William Wellesley- Pole, later 1st Baron Maryborough and 3rd Earl
of Mornington (c. 1815). Private collection.
30 Cooper, after Birch, Miss Wilson (c. 1808–09). Hulton Archive, Getty Images.
31 Edward Hodges Baily, after Joseph Nollekens, marble sculpture bust of the 1st Duke of
Wellington (c. 1828–30). © Tate, London 2013.
32 Henry Edridge, drawing of Wellington’s children. Courtesy of the Trustees of the
Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust.
33 Henry Smith, Oporto, with the Bridge of Boats (1813). © The Trustees of the British
Museum.
34 Unknown artist, Fuga de Soult da cidade do Porto (nineteenth century). Arquivo
Histórico Militar, Portugal (PT/AHM/FE/10-A 7- PQ–04).
35 Domenico Pellegrini, Retrato de Lord Wellington (1809). Museo Nacional de Arte
Antiga, photograph by José Pessoa. Direção-Geral do Património Cultural / Arquivo de
Documentação Fotográfica (DGPC/ADF).
36 T. Sutherland, aquatint after W. Heath, The Battle of Talavera (1815). Courtesy of the
Council of the National Army Museum, London.
37 Sir Thomas Lawrence, Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry (Lord Castlereagh)
(1809–10). © National Portrait Gallery, London.
38 Sir Thomas Lawrence, Charles William Vane-S tewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry
(1812). © National Portrait Gallery, London.
39 Sir William Beechey, William Carr Beresford, Viscount Beresford (1814–15). © National
Portrait Gallery, London.
40 François-P ascal- Simon Gérard, Lord Stuart de Rothesay (1828–31). The Bettine, Lady
Abingdon Collection. Bequeathed by Mrs T.R.P. Hole. Victoria and Albert Museum,
London.
41 C. Turner, engraving after Thomas St Clair, Troops Bevouack’d near the Village of
Villa Velha, on the Evening of the 19th of May 1811. Shewing the various occupations of
an Emcampment (1812). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army Museum,
London.
42 Denis Dighton, Portuguese Army, 20th Infantry Regiment (1812). Royal Collection Trust
/ © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013.
43 Denis Dighton, Portuguese Army, 4th Caçadores (1812). Royal Collection Trust / © Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013.
44 C. Turner, aquatint after Thomas St Clair, A View of the Sierra de Busaco at St. Antonio
de Cantaro, showing the attack by Marshal Reigniers (1812). Courtesy of the Council of
the National Army Museum, London.
45 Sir William Beechey, Lt. General Sir Thomas Picton (c. 1815). © English Heritage.
46 Unknown artist, General Robert Craufurd (nineteenth century). Private Collection /
Ken Welsh / The Bridgeman Art Library.
4160_01_Text.indd 8 31/08/13 3:07 PM
List of iLLustrations ix
47 William Robinson, after Sir Thomas Lawrence, General the Hon. Sir Galbraith Lowry
Cole GCB (1811). © National Trust / Bryan Rutledge.
48 Antoine- Jean Gros, André Masséna, duc de Rivoli, prince d’Essling, maréchal de France
(1834). © Paris – Musée de l’Armée, Dist. RMN- Grand Palais / image musée de l’Armée.
49 Jean- Baptiste Paulin Guérin, Auguste- Frédéric- Louis de Viesse de Marmont, duc de
Raguse (1834). © RMN- Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) / Gérard Blot.
50 Unknown artist, British Light Infantry (95th Rifles) (n.d.). Private collection.
51 Juan Bauzil, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1812–16). © National Portrait
Gallery, London.
52 G. Thompson, A View of the Storming and Taking of Badajoz in Spain on April 6th 1812
(1812). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army Museum, London.
53 Francisco de Goya, The Duke of Wellington (1812–14). © The National Gallery, London.
54 Charles Williams, See the Conquering Hero Comes, sound your trumpet, beat your drums
(1812). © The Trustees of the British Museum.
55 J.A. Atkinson, Baggage Waggon (1807). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army
Museum, London.
56 J.C. Stadler, aquatint after Charles Hamilton Smith, Battalion Infantry 6th Regiment and
23rd or Royal Welsh Fusiliers (1812–15). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army
Museum, London.
57 J.C. Stadler, aquatint after Charles Hamilton Smith, Soldiers of the 1st Regiment of Foot
Guards in Marching Order (1812–15). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army
Museum, London.
58 Wellington’s dressing case. Apsley House, The Wellington Museum, London, UK / The
Bridgeman Art Library.
59 Pontoon Bridge over the Esla, in J.H. Stocqueler, The Life of Field Marshal the Duke of
Wellington (1852–53), vol. 1, p. 236.
60 Denis Dighton, An Action during the Peninsular War, with riflemen of 95th (Rifle)
Regiment acting as snipers (c. 1810). Courtesy of the Council of the National Army
Museum, London.
61 James Walker, after John Augustus Atkinson, The Battle of Vittoria (1820). © The
Trustees of the British Museum.
62 Charles Williams, Wellington and Glory, or the Victory of Vittoria (1813).
© The Trustees of the British Museum.
63 Thomas Jones Barker, Wellington at Sorauren, 27 July 1813 (c. 1853). Courtesy of the
Council of the National Army Museum, London.
64 John Heaviside Clark, Storming the Town and Castle of St. Sebastian in Spain, Sepr. 1813
(1813). © The Trustees of the British Museum.
65 Thomas Heaphy, watercolour study of Wellington (1813). © National Portrait Gallery,
London.
66 Anker Smith, engraving after Thomas Heaphy, Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington
Giving Orders to his Generals Previous to a General Action (1822). © Crown copyright:
UK Government Art Collection.
4160_01_Text.indd 9 12/09/13 8:03 AM