The Iron Duke’ 1769 – 1852 (‘Old Hooky’)
Born in Ireland to aristocracy he famously said:
"Being born in a stable, does not make one a horse, so my fellow I’m an Englishman not Irish."
A true military commander, politician, and statesman. Affectionately
known as ‘Hooky’ by his soldiers because of the shape of his nose. He
returned the compliment once after an incident of looting by his
troops, by calling them,‘the scum of the earth, enlisted only for
drink.’ Yet an enemy would know that when they saw the Red coats of his
troops they knew they were in for a hard fight. Often a single
battalion would defeat a French division. He in turn commanded some very
hard battlefield commanders such as Beresford, Picton, and others.
Wellingtons army in the Napoleonic wars was one thing. Tough. He himself
never lost his personal qualities of discipline, loyalty to England,
and toughness. Ensign to Field Marshall
Commander at the battles of Assaye, Porto, Salamanca, Vitoria, Toulouse, Talavera de Reina, the storming of Badajoz. Victor over Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
Member of Parliament
British Prime Minister twice.
22 January 1828 – 16 November 1830
17 November 1834 – 9 December 1834
He is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral. His honours and legacies are too numerous to list. The crowds at his funeral were vast.
Winston Churchill 1874 – 1965
"Never give in, never give in, never; never; never;
never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in
except to convictions of honor and good sense"
Soldier, statesman, politician, author. Victor in the ‘Battle of
Britain’ 9 July to 31 October 1940. Winner of the Nobel Literary prize.
He is most famous as Prime Minister during the Second World War. Born to a mixture of English aristocracy and US parentage, his relationship with the US President Roosevelt was vital. His first speech as Prime Minister and head of the War Cabinet is now famous, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat". It has the iconic line:
"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may
be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing
grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall
fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
His State Funeral was on 30 January 1965, was a huge affair. It was
also the birth date of his friend President Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s
children led tributes in the US. Like Alfred and Drake and Elizabeth I, he came at the right time. A true English leader of his time for his time.
