Duke of Wellington (1769 - 1852)

Who was he? Victor of Waterloo, Prime Minister. Farrer & Co’s involvement: Advising the Duke on the insurance of artworks and the acquisition of country estates during the 1820s.

Background

Arthur Wellesley was one of the most prominent public figures of early nineteenth-century Britain. Best known for his military career and his decisive victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, he later played a central role in national politics, serving twice as Prime Minister.

Victory at Waterloo transformed Wellington’s position and circumstances. He was elevated to the peerage, awarded substantial honours and rewards, and acquired significant wealth and public standing. With this came the practical realities of living as a duke: acquiring and managing estates, safeguarding valuable assets, and putting long-term arrangements in place that reflected his status, reputation and responsibilities.

It was during this period - when Wellington combined immense public visibility with growing private interests - that he turned to Farrer & Co for advice.

Our work

Farrer & Co advised the Duke of Wellington on the acquisition and management of country estates and the insurance of valuable artworks, supporting him as he established the private arrangements expected of a leading figure of his rank following Waterloo.

This work included substantial conveyancing and estate-building activity, reflecting the fact that Wellington, while elevated to the peerage and rewarded for his military success, was not born into great wealth and needed to construct an aristocratic estate appropriate to his position.

An example of the firm’s role can be seen in matters involving Wellington’s London residence at Apsley House and his relationship with neighbouring property owners, notably the Rothschild family. In the 1840s, Lionel de Rothschild acquired and redeveloped 148 Piccadilly, next door to Apsley House. Issues arising from the proximity of the properties, including concerns around privacy, required legal handling. Farrer & Co acted for the Duke in seeking a practical and amicable resolution, reflecting the firm’s role in managing sensitive private matters between prominent families.

This work sat within a wider network of discreet professional relationships that supported Wellington’s public life. His long-standing connections with the Rothschild family — who had played a critical role in financing British military campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars — illustrate how legal, financial and personal interests often intersected for clients operating at the highest levels of society.

Why it matters

The firm’s work for Arthur Wellesley, carried out during his time as both a national military figure and Prime Minister, reflects an enduring aspect of our practice: advising clients whose public profile sits alongside substantial private interests.

Advice on the insurance of paintings and the acquisition of country estates involves careful management of assets, legacy and risk, at a time when wealth, reputation and responsibility overlapped. The firm would have considered the Duke’s status, exposure and long-term interests.

The relationship also illustrates how the firm has long supported clients in the quieter, practical arrangements behind public life. It demonstrates continuity - of trust, discretion and sound judgement applied to the personal affairs of those operating at the highest levels of society - which remains central to our practice today.

Farrer & Co, 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LH, United Kingdom

Farrer & Co LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (ID 447822)