Richard Wellesley

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Richard Wellesley was an Anglo-Irish politician.[1] He inherited his father's titles in the Irish peerage, in 1781, when he was just 21 years old. Although his Irish title gave him the right to sit in the Irish House of Lords he spent years in his early political career as a member of House of Commons of Great Britain.

In 1797 he entered the peerage of Great Britain, being created Baron Wellesley.[1]

In 1798 he was appointed the Governor General of India, a very important post.[2] His younger brother Arthur Wellesley was then serving as the Colonel of a regiment serving in India. His youngest brother Henry Wellesley accompanied him as his secretary.

Wellesley served as Governor General until 1805.[2] His brother Arthur won several significant victories in India, during his Governor-Generalship, and was promoted to Major general. The brothers all returned to the United Kingdom in 1805.

Richard was appointed Ambassador to Spain, in 1809, when Arthur was the commander of the UK expeditionary force in the Iberian peninsula.[2]

He served as Foreign Secretary, a cabinet position, in 1812.[2] He would later be appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord Chamberlain.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 WELLESLEY (formerly WESLEY), Richard Colley, 2nd Earl of Mornington [I (1760-1842), of Dangan Castle, co. Meath], History of Parliament online. Retrieved on 2022-06-30. “...took name of Wellesley 1789; cr. Baron Wellesley [GB] 20 Oct. 1797; Marquess Wellesley [I] 2 Dec. 1799; K.G. 3 Mar. 1810.”
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Oxford Reference. Retrieved on 2022-06-30. “He served as foreign secretary in Perceval's cabinet. Wellesley championed the rights of catholics in Ireland and in 1821–8 and 1833–4 acted as lord‐lieutenant of Ireland. In 1835 he became lord chamberlain.”