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Wellington’s military career was to reach its glorious peak
on 18 June 1815 with the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of
Waterloo. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the
Occupation forces until his return to England in November
1818, and within a month joined the Cabinet as Master-
General of Ordnance. His political career was crowned with
success when he became Prime Minister on 9 January 1828.
Much has been made of the Duke’s negative remarks about
his initiation into Freemasonry. In 1838 when Lodge No. 494
of Trim decided to move to Dublin, the new secretary,
Edward Carleton, wrote to the Duke asking for permission to
rename the Lodge in his honour. The Duke’s reply was polite
and firm:
…(the Duke) perfectly recollects he was admitted to the lowest
grade of Free Masonry in a Lodge which was fixed at Trim, in the
County of Meath. He has never since attended a Lodge of Free Masons.
He cannot say that he knows anything of the Art. His consent to give
this Lodge his Name would be a ridiculous assumption of the reputation
of being attached to free Masonry; in addition to being a misrepresentation,
The Duke of Wellington hopes, therefore, that Mr Carleton
will excuse the Duke for declining to comply with his suggestion…
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Engraved portrait of
the Duke of Wellington
© Bettman / Corbis
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