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