Wellington-Elrington Papers, 1817-1963, bulk 1827-1848

Summary

Creators:

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852.

Abstract:

This collection contains papers of British soldier and statesman Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), chiefly related to Wellingon's work as Constable of the Tower of London, including letters and documents pertaining to the day to day running of the Tower and Wellington's efforts to reform the long-standing traditions of the staff and personnel who lived and worked in the Tower.

Extent:

270 pieces in 5 boxes

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers consist of the following series:

1. Correspondence, Manuscripts & Documents (Boxes 1-5) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, was appointed Constable of the Tower of London by George IV in 1827. A sinecure of high honor, the post of Constable was also very lucrative. The constable was not required to reside in the Tower, and the actual administration of it was traditionally carried out by a staff officer, the Tower Major. Wellington, however, took his responsibilities seriously and closely supervised Tower Major John Henry Elrington. The papers include letters and documents pertaining to the day to day running of the Tower and the efforts of Wellington to reform the long-standing traditions of the staff and personnel who lived and worked in the Tower.

The majority of the letters are written by Wellington to Elrington, with a small number written to Colonel Sir Francis Hastings Doyle. The remainder of the letters include five letters written by Elrington to Wellington, 34 letters from Wellington’s secretary Algernon Frederick Greville to various addressees, and a small number of letters from, among others, Sir George Cathcart, Fox Maule-Ramsay (Earl of Dalhouise), George Sackville-West (Earl De La Warr), John Gurwood, William Loftus, Sir John Pirie, Arthur Marcus Cecil Sandys (Baron Sandys), and one letter from Gerald Wellesley (Duke of Wellington). There are two 20th century manuscripts, based upon the material in the collection, written by Frank Benjamin Maggs and Ralph Partridge. There is also one folder of Ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), British soldier and statesman. Wellington was born in Ireland on May 1, 1769, and after an unpromising childhood and scholastic career entered the army. After service in the Netherlands and India, in May of 1808, he left England and served in the Peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars, finally defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was twice prime minister (1828-1830 and 1834, Nov.-Dec.) and remained Commander-in-Chief of the British Army until his death on September 14, 1852.

Acquisition information:

Acquired from Maggs Bros., London, Sale 954, Lot 146, Aug. 27, 1973.

Arrangement:

Organized in the following manner: 1. Correspondence, Manuscripts, Documents & Ephemera (Boxes 1-5). Arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Related material:

• Wellington-Beresford Collection (Call number: mssHM 21095-21158)
• Wellington letters to his agent (Call number: mssHM 16217-16235)

Please also consult the Manuscripts Card Catalogue and the Huntington Library Online Catalog for additional Wellington material.

Other descriptive data:

Adelaide, Queen, consort of William IV, King of Great Britain, 1792-1849. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letter to Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, 1783-1839, (1834, Aug. 16). HM 76937.

Alexander II, Emperor of Russia, 1818-1881. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769- 1852, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1839, May 6). HM 77078.

Ana de Jesus Maria, Infanta of Portugal, 1806-1857. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1828). HM 76944-76946.

Cholera -- Great Britain -- Prevention -- History -- 19th century. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letters to Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, 1783-1839, (1832). HM 76924, 76927.

Cholera -- Great Britain -- Prevention -- History -- 19th century. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1832). HM 76962-76963, 76967.

Cloncurry, Valentine, Baron, 1773-1853. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letter to Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, 1783-1839, (1831, Sep. 19). HM 76923.

Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910. In [Mr.] G---- Butler, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1841, Nov. 9). HM 76859.

Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910. In John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, letter to [Captain] ----- Macbean, (1841, Nov. 9). HM 76866.

Elrington, John Henry, 1771-1857. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Frederick William IV, King of Prussia, 1795-1861. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1842). HM 77116-77117.

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769- 1852, letter to Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, 1783-1839, (1831, Sep. 19). HM 76923.

George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830. In John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, “Memorandum 1818,” (1818, [May]). HM 76865.

George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Loftus, William, 1752-1831. In John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, “Memorandum 1818,” (1818, [May]). HM 76865.

Loftus, William, 1752-1831. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Loulé, Nuno José Severo de Mendonça Rolim de Moura Barreto, Duque de, 1804-1875. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771- 1857, (1828). HM 76944-76946.

McMahon, John, ca. 1754-1817. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Menageries -- England -- London -- History. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769- 1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1835). HM 77002-77004.

Palmerston, Henry John Temple, Viscount, 1784-1865. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Peel, Robert, 1788-1850. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1828, Sep. 25). HM 76951.

Salisbury, James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of, 1791-1868. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1827, July 6). HM 76939.

Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Torrens, Henry, Sir, 1779-1828. In William Loftus, 1752-1831, “The Substance of what passed between…,” (1817, Feb. 17 & Mar. 29). HM 76909.

Tower of London (London, England). In Sir George Cathcart, 1794-1854, letter to Major ----- Aldrich, (1851, Aug. 7). HM 76860.

Tower of London (London, England). In John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, “Memorandum 1818,” (1818, [May]). HM 76865.

Tower of London (London, England). In John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, letter to Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, (1845, Nov. 17). HM 76871.

Tower of London (London, England). In Frank Benjamin Maggs, 1897-1965, “The Duke, The Tower, And The Beefeaters…,” (1962-1963). HM 76911.

Tower of London (London, England). In Ralph Partridge, “The Duke and the Beefeaters,” ([1950]). HM 76914.

Tower of London (London, England) -- Fire. In Francis Lovell, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1841, Nov. 10). HM 76910.

Tower of London (London, England) -- Fire. In John S. Wood, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1841, Nov. 2). HM 77126.

Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901. In [Mr.] G---- Butler, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1841, Nov. 9). HM 76858-76859.

Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769- 1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1837-1838). HM 77029-77030, 77053-77056.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. In John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, “All Letters, And Documents…,” (1842, Sep. 6). HM 76864.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. In Algernon Frederick Greville, 1798-1864, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1829). HM 76874-76875.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. In Frank Benjamin Maggs, 1897-1965, “The Duke, The Tower, And The Beefeaters…,” (1962-1963). HM 76911.

Wellington, Catherine Wellesley, Duchess of, 1772-1831. In Algernon Frederick Greville, 1798- 1864, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1831, Apr. 27). HM 76888.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. In [Ralph Partridge], [Notes and partial quotations…], ([1950]). HM 76913.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. In Ralph Partridge, “The Duke and the Beefeaters,” ([1950]). HM 76914.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. In Gerald Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1885-1972, letter to Ralph Partridge, (1949, Mar. 23). HM 77125.

Westmorland, Jane Saunders, Countess of, d. 1857. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1835). HM 76996-76998, 77000.

William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837. In Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769- 1852, letters to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1835). HM 77001, 77003.

Doyle, Francis Hastings, Sir, 1783-1839. Addressee for Algernon Frederick Greville, 1798-1864, (1832, Aug. 16). HM 76872.

Doyle, Francis Hastings, Sir, 1783-1839. Addressee for Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, (1830-1839). HM 76922-76938.

Elrington, John Henry, 1771-1857. Signature and note on letter from George Sackville-West, Earl De La Warr, 1791-1869, (1841, Nov. 7). HM 76863.

Elrington, John Henry, 1771-1857. Autograph notes following letters from Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1828-1838). HM 76951, 76998, 77002, 77043.

Gurwood, John, 1790-1845. Addressee for Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, (1841, Mar. 27). HM 77124.

Howe, Robert. Autograph note attached to Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852, letter to John Henry Elrington, 1771-1857, (1828, May 26). HM 76950.

Partridge, Ralph. Addressee for Gerald Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, 1885-1972, (1949, Mar. 23). HM 77125.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Cross written replies on letters from Fox Maule-Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie, 1801-1874, (1847-1850). HM 76861-76862.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Cross written reply on letter from Hopwood & Son (Firm), (1846, May 21). HM 76907.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Cross written reply on letter from Sir John Pirie, 1781-1851, (1842, July 7). HM 76916.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Addressee for Fox Maule-Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie, 1801-1874, (1847-1850). HM 76861-76862.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Addressee for John Henry Elrington, 1771- 1857, (1838-1845). HM 76867-76871.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Addressee for Hopwood & Son (Firm), (1846, May 21). HM 76907.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Addressee for Thomas Kelly, 1772-1855, (1836, July 11). HM 76908.

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1796-1852. Addressee for Sir John Pirie, 1781-1851, (1842, July 7). HM 76916.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Tower of London (London, England)
Cholera -- Great Britain -- Prevention -- History -- 19th century.
Documents -- Great Britain -- 19th century.
Ephemera -- Great Britain -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 20th century.
Manuscripts -- Great Britain -- 19th century.
Manuscripts -- Great Britain -- 20th century.

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:

Huntington Library, Manuscript Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA 91108, US

Contact:

(626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

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