Wellington was born in Rome, Italy, on 2 July 1915, the son of Lord Gerald Wellesley, future 7th Duke of Wellington, by his wife Dorothy Violet (née Ashton), daughter of Robert Ashton. He had one younger sister, the socialite Lady Elizabeth Clyde, whose son is the actor and musician Jeremy Clyde.
At the time of Wellington's birth, his father Gerald was the third son of the 4th Duke of Wellington, with little prospect of succeeding to the family's estates and titles. Wellington was 28 when his first cousin Henry, the 6th Duke, was killed in action aged 31 while serving in Italy during the Second World War. Wellington's father then became the 7th Duke, and Wellington himself came to be known by the courtesy titleMarquess of Douro. He was thus named between 1943 and 1972, when he became 8th Duke upon the death of his father.
Wellington was involved in business as a Director of Massey Ferguson Holdings Ltd from 1967 to 1989 and of Motor Iberica SA (Spain) from 1967 to 1999. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire on 18 April 1975.[16] Through his final years, the Duke continued to conduct public engagements, most recently at the Order of the Garter investiture, 16 June 2014.[17]
Wellington died peacefully at his home, Stratfield Saye Estate, near Basingstoke, on New Year's Eve.
Lord John Henry Wellesley (20 April 1954); married Corinne Vaes, daughter of a Belgian diplomat, on 7 May 1977. They have two children. Father-in-law of singer James Blunt.
Lord (James) Christopher Douglas Wellesley (16 December 1964); He married firstly Laura Wedge in 1994 and they had one daughter before they were divorced in 2005. Emma Nethercott became his second wife; they had three children, including daughter Skye, who died aged 15 from the complications of Rett syndrome and in whose name and memory the Skye Wellesley Foundation was established.[20] The couple divorced in February 2015.
Titles and styles
2 July 1915 – 16 September 1943: Valerian Wellesley
16 September 1943 – 4 January 1972: Marquess of Douro
4 January 1972 – 31 December 2014: His Grace The Duke of Wellington
(Spain): The Most Excellent The Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo (4 January 1972 – 21 May 2010)
(Belgium and the Netherlands): His Serene Highness The Prince of Waterloo (4 January 1972 – 31 December 2014)
On 26 December 1941, as Second Lieutenant Wellesley, Wellesley was awarded the Military Cross[6] "in recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East (including Egypt, East Africa, The Western Desert, The Sudan, Greece, Crete, Syria and Tobruk) during the period February, 1941, to July, 1941".[23]
Wellington was appointed a Member (Fourth Class) of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) on 15 March 1952.[24] Membership (Fourth Class) was redesignated Lieutenant in 1984, thus adjusting his post-nominal letters to LVO. He was made an Officer (Military) of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on 7 February 1958 "in recognition of distinguished services in Cyprus for the period 1st July to 31st December, 1957".[25]
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