Waterloo to Wellington

•  A history of the founding of Wellington College and the Duke who inspired it, published on the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo

For Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), whether he was leading a military campaign or His Majesty’s government, his chief aim in life was to serve his country. This idea of service lies at the heart of the foundation of Wellington College and continues to be a guiding light for those who, 200 years after the carnage at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, follow in the footsteps of this remarkable man.
The Duke brought peace to Europe and was described by Queen Victoria as ‘the greatest man this country has ever produced’. His life and achievements towered over the first half of the nineteenth century and he continues to be widely admired. Waterloo to Wellington explores the qualities of character and intellect that made the Duke of Wellington’s military campaigns so successful, and which Wellington College in turn aims to foster in its pupils.

Dr Joanna Seldon is an independent teacher and writer. Her DPhil from Oxford University was on Nathaniel Hawthorne and nineteenth-century women writers. She has published a number of short stories and poems. Her novels include Still Crazy (2013), Squared (2014) and Piper’s Hole (2014).