Wellesley, Richard Colley Wellesley, Marquess

Wellesley (of Norragh), Richard Colley Wellesley, Marquess

(born June 20, 1760, Dangan, County Meath, Ire.—died Sept. 26, 1842, London, Eng.) British statesman. He inherited his father's Irish title as earl of Mornington and sat in the Irish House of Lords from 1781. He served in the British House of Commons (1784–97). As governor of Madras and governor general of Bengal (1797–1805), he used military force and annexation to greatly enlarge the British Empire in India, but he was recalled by the East India Co. for his vast expenditures. In 1809 he went to Spain to make diplomatic preparations for the Peninsular War; he served as foreign secretary (1809–12). As lord lieutenant of Ireland (1821–28, 1833–34) he tried to reconcile Protestants and Catholics. Despite his own achievements, he became increasingly jealous of his younger brother, the duke of Wellington.