The Quotable Duke of Wellington Quiz

Answer:

Known affectionately as "Old Nosey" or "Hookey", due to his characteristic hooked nose, Lord Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington was born in 1769 in Ireland. He entered the British Army at the age of 18 in 1787, and by the age of 34 was a Major General. He saw action in the Netherlands and India, before serving as a general in the Peninsular Wars front of the Napoleonic Wars. Rising to the rank of Field Marshal, Wellesley commanded troops at several major battles, including the famous Battle of Waterloo (1815). He later served twice as the Prime Minister of Great Britain, between 1828-1830, and later in 1834. He died in 1852 at the age of 83, and was given a state funeral.

A strict man, Wellesley nevertheless felt the deaths of his men and friends deeply, and his quotes on the horrors of war were inspired by what he saw and felt on and after battles such as Waterloo. He was also known for speaking his mind, which led to several of the quotes here, including his opinions on Engineering and bad hats. He was always aware of the drawbacks and strengths of his army, noting that it was comprised of rabble that had simply joined for the alcohol rations, while remaining convinced of the army's unconquerable spirit. In other words, while he knew his men were not heroes, he knew he could rely on them. Both a practical and a brilliant man, Wellesley goes down in history as one of Great Britain's greatest leaders.