Arthur Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington
|
|
Brig_Arthur_Valerian_Wellesley_KG_LVO_OBE_MC_BA_DL_8th_Duke_of_Wellington.jpg
Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, KG, LVO, OBE, MC BA DL, (born 2 July 1915), a retired Brigadier in the British Army, he was born in Rome. From 1943 to 1972, when he succeeded his father he was known as Marquess Douro.
He attended Eton and New College, Oxford.
| Contents |
Career
He joined the British Army, serving in the Second World War with the Royal Horse Guards; he eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding that regiment in 1954. He then moved to the Household Cavalry Regiment, which he began commanding in 1959. He commanded the 22nd Armoured Brigade (1960-1961), served in the British Army of the Rhine, and became defence attaché to Spain in 1964; he retired from the Army in 1968 as a Brigadier. During his period of service, he received the Military Cross.
He became Colonel-in-Chief of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding), Honorary Colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Wessex Regiment, and Deputy Colonel (to HRH The Princess Royal) of The Blues and Royals. In 1990 he was appointed a Knight of the Garter.
He was also a director of Massey Ferguson Holdings Ltd between 1967 and 1989 and a director of Motor Iberica SA (Spain) between 1967 and 1999.
Honours
- Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire — 1975.
- Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter — 1990.
- Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
- Officer of the Legion of Honour.
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael of the Wing of Portugal (Portugal)
- Member of the Order of Isabel La Catolica (Spain)
Marriage
On 28 January 1944, he married Diana McConnel at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. They had five children:
- Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, Marquess of Douro (b. 19 August 1945)
- Lord Richard Gerald Wellesley (b. 20 June 1949), married Joanna Marion Sumner and had issue.
- Lady Caroline Jane Wellesley (b. 6 July 1951)
- Lord John Henry Wellesley (b. 20 April 1954), married Corinne Vaes and had issue.
- Lord James Christopher Douglas Wellesley (b. 16 December 1964), married Laura Elizabeth Wedge and had issue.
Source
- The Peerage website (http://www.thepeerage.com)
| Preceded by: Gerald Wellesley | Duke of Wellington | Succeeded by: Current Incumbent |