| Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), who later became | | | | Spain.There followed a one step forward, one |
| the Duke of Wellington and the hero who beat | | | | step back style of campaign that kept Wellington |
| Napoleon at Waterloo, had to overcome his own | | | | one step ahead of his often numerically superior |
| mother's lack of faith in him in order to make a | | | | enemies.When in doubt about his army's ability to |
| success of his military career.She once | | | | defeat larger enemy forces he would retire to his |
| commented: "I vow to God I don't know what I | | | | strong defensive network - the Lines of Torres |
| shall do with my awkward son, Arthur". She even | | | | Vedras. His tactical skill proved itself again and |
| believed he had little aptitude for soldiering! | | | | again. Wellington, like most other successful |
| Perhaps this motivated him to become one of the | | | | people, developed his skills constantly and was |
| greatest generals in British military history. Several | | | | careful not to bite off more than he could |
| key success lessons can be learned from his | | | | chew.The leadership Wellesley showed in the |
| life.Millions are programmed from an early age by | | | | Peninsular campaign was legendary. He expected |
| their own parents and friends who place verbal | | | | the best from his men but was also a harsh |
| limits on what they can achieve. Too often, they | | | | disciplinarian. He hanged looters. He valued the help |
| allow these limits to control them for the rest of | | | | of his Portuguese and Spanish allies too much to |
| their lives. Wellesley, for one, managed to | | | | allow thieves to alienate them. Yet his troops |
| demolish the limits placed on him by his own | | | | knew that he never risked their lives in battle |
| mother.However, at first, Arthur appeared to | | | | without good cause.After driving the French from |
| prove that his mother's opinion of him was | | | | the Peninsula, Wellington pushed on into France |
| correct. He showed little aptitude for anything | | | | itself until Napoleon, pressed by Wellington in the |
| except playing the violin and socializing.But, by | | | | south and the Prussian, Russian and Austrian allies |
| 1793, when the French King was guillotined and | | | | in the north, was forced to abdicate in |
| war was declared on France, he had learned the | | | | 1814.Wellington was praised as the hero of |
| huge success lesson of the importance of focus. | | | | Europe, but peace did not last long. In March of |
| He decided to take his army career seriously and | | | | 1815, Napoleon escaped from his exile on the |
| burnt his violin in his fireplace so that he could | | | | island of Elba and once again threatened |
| concentrate all his energies on succeeding as a | | | | Europe.Arthur Wellesley was now made the first |
| soldier.This was probably a wise move. The old | | | | Duke of Wellington and marched his troops into |
| saying "Jack of all trades and master of none," | | | | Belgium where Napoleon had gathered his army.At |
| has real meaning. Successful people soon learn | | | | a place called Waterloo the French and British |
| that they cannot do everything they want to and | | | | armies met for what was to be the final battle. |
| need to concentrate their energies on a few key | | | | The allies of the British like the Prussians, Belgians |
| projects.Wellesley and his family had enough | | | | and the Dutch should not be forgotten. They |
| influence and money to buy his way up the | | | | played a large part in the victory.Wellington, |
| officer ranks of the army. He was able to rise | | | | himself, was everywhere on the field of battle |
| extremely quickly from the status of a junior | | | | encouraging his men and holding them steady |
| officer to that of lieutenant-colonel at the age of | | | | against the legendary French army and their great |
| 25.He used the leverage of family and money to | | | | general, Napoleon.Wellington said of him that his |
| speed up his progress to military success. | | | | presence on the battle field was worth 40,000 |
| Successful people do not go it alone if they can | | | | men. The same could have been said of |
| help it. Life is too short.However, Wellesley did not | | | | Wellington himself.Wellington eventually inflicted an |
| rely on family influence alone. After his regiment | | | | overwhelming defeat on Napoleon, but the victory |
| was sent to India in 1796, Wellesley began to | | | | cost a large number of lives. Wellington had |
| distinguish himself. He worked hard to master his | | | | become known as the 'Iron Duke' by his men but |
| craft and took care of his troops.He became a | | | | even he wept when he learned of the numbers |
| master of the reverse-slope tactic which he | | | | of men who had lost their lives on that day.The |
| would use later at Waterloo. He kept his forces | | | | British had suffered 15,000 casualties and the |
| screened from artillery fire behind the brow of a | | | | French 40,000. Waterloo was to be Wellington's |
| hill. He probably realized early on that dead soldiers | | | | last battle. He returned to England and resumed a |
| do not achieve victory.He won several important | | | | political career begun many years before. He |
| battles in India and then, in 1805, returned to | | | | eventually became Prime Minister in 1828.He was |
| England. In 1808, he arrived in Portugal which was | | | | not popular as a politician and once had to fight a |
| occupied by the French. He soon began a series | | | | duel with one of his political opponents - Lord |
| of victories and, when given sole command, | | | | Winchelsea. However, both men wisely aimed to |
| launched the Peninsular war which was to drive | | | | miss and honour was satisfied!The Duke was not |
| Napoleon's armies from Portugal and Spain by | | | | a man to be dominated or threatened by anyone. |
| 1814.The French had seemed unbeatable until | | | | Unlike Prince Charles, he was not too worried |
| Wellesley took them on. In 1808 he had told a | | | | about his private writings being made public. He |
| friend that he would not be chased off the | | | | made a famous reply to a rejected mistress, |
| continent as so many other similar forces had | | | | who threatened to publish the love-letters he had |
| been, because he had made a study of French | | | | written to her: "Publish and be damned!"Queen |
| tactics, and would not be intimidated by their | | | | Victoria consulted him frequently. She asked his |
| reputation."They may overwhelm me but I don't | | | | advice about how to deal with sparrows which |
| think they will outmanoeuvre me. First, because I | | | | had nested on the roof of the Crystal Palace. |
| am not afraid of them, as everybody else seems | | | | Wellington's reply was brief and to the point, |
| to be; and secondly, because if what I hear of | | | | "Sparrow-hawks, Ma,am". He was right. The |
| their system of manoeuvre is true, I think it a | | | | sparrows were soon gone!In one of my favourite |
| false one against steady troops. I suspect that all | | | | films "Waterloo", the Duke was asked what his |
| the continental armies were more than half | | | | plans were in case he was killed. The Duke replied: |
| beaten before the battle was begun - I, at least, | | | | "To beat the French!"He was a man of action and |
| will not be frightened beforehand.'Wellington knew | | | | few words although he did in fact plan very |
| how to stand steady in the face of a fearsome | | | | carefully and took great care to choose the right |
| attack and he instilled the same spirit into his | | | | ground for his battles. Success demands both |
| troops. Cool, steady, courage is a major factor in | | | | action and planning.Wellington made many |
| most success stories. Too many people are | | | | mistakes in his life and career but his ability to |
| beaten by their own lack of self-confidence | | | | achieve success shines out above them all. He |
| before they even start. If they do start and run | | | | refused to accept the valuation placed on him by |
| into problems they panic and panic leads quickly to | | | | his own mother. He focused all his efforts on his |
| failure.Wellington was called several affectionate | | | | chosen career and mastered the skills necessary |
| names by his troops such as Old Hookey (he had | | | | to succeed in it.He used leverage when it was |
| a prominent nose), Our Atty (Arthur) and the | | | | offered. He was not intimidated by the reputation |
| Bugger that Beats the French. He had words for | | | | of the French at that time and had the courage |
| them too which show his contempt for the run | | | | and confidence to face up to his military, political |
| away fathers and petty criminals who made up a | | | | and private enemies. He knew how to plan and |
| part of his army. However, his words also show | | | | how to act. He was a great leader who led by |
| his laconic sense of humour.Before the battle of | | | | example.As a public figure Wellington remained a |
| Waterloo, it is said that Wellington said of his own | | | | respected leader until his death in 1852. He was |
| troops "This army is composed of the scum of | | | | offered a cup of tea on his deathbed. His polite |
| the earth, I don't know what effect these men | | | | reply - 'Yes, if you please' - were his last words |
| will have on the enemy, but by God they terrify | | | | on earth.Wellington died at Walmer Castle in Kent |
| me!"During the five years of the Peninsular war, | | | | in 1852 and was given the honour of a State |
| he did not take one day's leave. His work ethic | | | | Funeral. It was a magnificent tribute to a great |
| was huge - another mark of successful people. He | | | | military hero. The Duke is buried in St. Paul's |
| campaigned backwards and forwards across | | | | Cathedral next to another great hero, Lord |
| Portugal and Spain.He was occasionally forced to | | | | Nelson.If you are ever in London, try to visit the |
| retreat because of the large numbers opposing | | | | Duke's house and the awesome statues to the |
| him, but never lost a battle or even a single | | | | south east of Hyde Park. I love gazing at these |
| cannon. He was almost always outnumbered by | | | | statues. They give a sense of Wellington's |
| the large French forces that were occupying | | | | greatness and the courage of his 'steady' troops. |