The Iron Duke: A Military Biography of Wellington

By Lawrence James

‘Lord Wellington don’t know how to lose a battle.’ The view of an anonymous soldier at Waterloo became the judgement of the world on the man who was hailed as the first general of his age.

Wellington taught himself the art of war in India where his hard-fought victories helped lay the foundations of the British Raj. His armies liberated Portugal and Spain, shattered the myth of French invincibility and inspired the people of Europe to resist Napoleon. 

This is also the story of a humane, intelligent and acerbic aristocrat who created the remarkable intelligence and logistical services that were the keys to his victories. Those victories, in turn, led to his being honoured by his countrymen who saw him as ‘the highest incarnation of English character’.

Largely drawn from original sources, The Iron Duke explores the life of Wellington the soldier, explaining how he waged war and why he won battles.