"
Although he made no great mark as a Parliamentarian, he did make
friends at this time, who were destined to influence his life. One was
the brilliant though somewhat unprincipled Lord Castlereagh, who was to
aid him to obtain the chief military command of the English army in
Spain. Another was a certain young lady, Charlotte Packenham, who
found his tongue more eloquent than did his colleagues in the House of
Commons. She was the daughter of Lord Longford, who was not so easily
won over to the young man's suit. In fact, the nobleman gave him a
curt "no." He was looking for a more brilliant match for his daughter
than a subaltern.
So the young people had to give each other a sad farewell. But it was
not to be forever. Ten years later when the young soldier had won his
spurs, and had returned from his brilliant campaign in India, a Major
General, the parental gates were unbarred. The Lady Charlotte had
remained constant through all the years of waiting and separation, and
they were happily wedded.
That Wellesley took more than a perfunctory interest in his military
duties is evident even during his earliest years of service. For
example, he wished to determine for himself just how much weight, in
the way of equipment, a soldier could carry in light marching order.
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