Henry Wellesley, 3rd Duke of Wellington
Henry Wellesley, 3rd Duke of Wellington was a British peer and Conservative Party politician. He was a son of Lord Charles Wellesley and grandson of the 1st Duke of Wellington. He was born with no title but inherited the dukedom when in 1884 his uncle died childless.
Between 1859 and 1865 he attended Eton. He joined the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards as an ensign on 16 May 1865, was promoted to major on 1 July 1881, and retired from the service on 28 June 1882. He unsuccessfully contested the Parliamentary constituency of Andover in 1868. He won the seat in 1874 and held it until the next election, 1880.
He succeeded his uncle as Duke of Wellington on 13 August 1884. Subsequently, his sisters Victoria and Mary were granted the rank of daughters of a Duke. He was appointed honorary colonel of the Hampshire Artillery 22 November 1884, and the 6th West York Militia on 10 April 1886. He held both honours until his death. He was special ambassador to Spain for the funeral of Alfonso XII in 1885, and chairman of the Society for the Suppression of Mendicity.
Wellington died at the family home of Strathfield Saye in 1900 and was buried there. He married Evelyn Katrine Gwenfra Williams on 7 March 1882; they had no issue. He was succeeded by his brother, Arthur Charles.
In her memoirs, Lady Angela Forbes comments that "The Duke was the fattest man I have ever seen, and went by the nickname of "Spurgeon".
