Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington

Arthur Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, was born on July 2, 1915. He was the son of Arthur Wellesley, the 7th Duke of Wellington, and Katherine Pakenham. As a young man, he attended Eton College and later attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. During World War II, he served in the British Army, fighting in Africa and Italy. He was wounded twice during the war and was awarded several medals for his bravery. After the war, he held several diplomatic posts, including serving as the Ambassador to Spain from 1954 to 1963. He also served as a member of the House of Lords from 1945 to 1999. In 1947, he married Diana McConnel, and the couple had four children. He succeeded his father as Duke of Wellington in 1945. The Duke of Wellington was also an active member of various organizations, including the National Trust, the Royal Opera House, and the Royal Fine Art Commission. He died on December 31, 2014, at the age of 99.