Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852), was a British field marshal and statesman, and the general who ended Napoleon's rule at Waterloo. Born in Dublin, he first made his name in India before taking command of British forces in the Peninsular War, where from 1808 to 1814 he drove the French out of Portugal and Spain through a combination of defensive skill, logistics and cooperation with Spanish guerrillas. During the Hundred Days he commanded the Anglo-allied army in Belgium and, with Prussian help arriving late in the day, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo on 18th June 1815. He later entered politics as a Tory, serving as Prime Minister in 1828–1830 and remaining a towering figure in British public life until his death. Wellington's defensive tactics and coolness under fire made him the archetype of the British commander, and his rivalry with Napoleon defined an era.