Letters written by Duke of Wellington during Napoleonic War to be sold at auction
"I attribute my success on the battlefield to always being on the spot to see and do everything for myself" ~ Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.
Going under the hammer at Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers Devon Saleroom on 8th December 2025, is a small collection of six letters from the desk of one of England’s finest military and political leaders, Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, with estimates from £500 - £2000. The earliest three of the correspondence, were written in August and September 1811, during the Wellington’s time in Fuente Guinaldo and in the lead up to the siege of Cuidad Rodrigo, a pivotal moment in the Peninsular War which would see the Anglo-Portuguese army successfully capture the city on 19th January 1812.
The missives contain Wellington’s wishes for the campaign, his thoughts on the use of a battering train, the deployment of iron howitzers, as well as a request for the opinion of Sir John May on his tactics for the forthcoming engagement. The remaining dispatch referring to the conflict is dated 7th June 1812, just before the Battle of Salamanca, and specifies the quantity of arms that will be required for the march from Almeida.
The final letter in the collection was written almost two decades later. By this time, the Duke of Wellington was no longer leading armies on the battlefield but the country from the Houses of Parliament, where he served a two-year term as Prime Minister. The letter is addressed again to his long-time friend and advisor Major-General Sir John May and dated 3rd July 1830, and the paper is trimmed with a black edging out of respect to the late King George IV who had passed away only a week before.
These lots are truly exiting and special items and the privilege of having them consigned to our auction house is certainly not lost on Adam, who said: “ Sometimes, in this industry, I am lucky enough to come into contact with a lot, a piece of history, that will stop me in my tracks and really give me some food for thought. These letters were written by one of this country’s most famous and successful military leaders and the fact that they have passed from his hands, by way of a couple of centuries, and into mine, reminds me of how incredible my job can be and I expect them to stir up a large amount of interest, both in the UK and globally”.
Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers is the largest independent, family run, auction company in the UK. With auction houses in Cheshire, Liverpool, Devon and London, as well as valuation offices in Manchester, Preston and Torquay, it remains popular with buyers, vendors, traders and hobbyists alike.
The auction will take place at The Devon Saleroom, The Devon Saleroom, The Antique Village, Station Road, Hele, Exeter, EX5 4PW on Monday 8th December 2025 with viewing from Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December 2025. The catalogue will be available online at adampartridge.co.uk
