Major-General Lord Charles Wellesley (16 January 1808 – 9 October 1858) was an Anglo-Irish soldier, Conservative politician, and courtier from the aristocratic Wellesley family. He was the younger son of Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

Early life and education

Lord Charles was born at the Chief Secretary's Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin, the second of two sons of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and Catherine Pakenham Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington. He was educated at Eton College, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1824, aged 16. He was rusticated by the Dean of Christ Church, Samuel Smith, transferring in 1826 to Trinity College, Cambridge.

Career

Lord Charles entered the British Army in January 1824, at age 16. He accompanied his regiment, the 15th Regiment of Foot, to Canada during the Rebellions of 1837–1838. He returned in 1840 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He retired from the army in 1845. He was appointed Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to Queen Victoria in 1841 and held the post until 1846. He represented the Conservative Party as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Hampshire from 1842 to 1852, and the MP for Windsor from 1852 to 1855. As a politician, Lord Charles was a liberal conservative who voted for free trade and supported Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel's progressive policies. He left Parliament in February 1855 due to loss of sight.

Marriage and issue

Lord Charles married Augusta Sophia Anne Pierrepont, daughter of The Hon. Henry Pierrepont, on 9 July 1844. They had six children: After several months of declining health, Lord Charles died aged 50 in 1858 at Conholt Park, Wiltshire. When his older brother, Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington, died in 1884 with no heirs, Lord Charles's eldest surviving son, Henry Wellesley inherited his uncle's dukedom as Duke of Wellington. His other surviving children were raised to the rank and precedence of children of a duke in November 1884. When Henry also died childless in 1900, the peerage passed to Lord Charles' third son Arthur Wellesley, Henry's brother.