The Duke of Wellington died at Walmer Castle in Kent on 14 September 1852. He was 83.

Wellington was staying at the castle as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, an office he had held since 1829. That morning, his valet found him unable to rise from the small campaign bed in his room. He was moved to an armchair and died later that afternoon.

Arthur Wellesley had been one of Britain’s leading public figures for decades. His military career had culminated in the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. He later served twice as prime minister and remained commander-in-chief of the British Army.

His body remained at Walmer for two months while preparations were made for a state funeral. Parliament voted £100,000 towards the ceremony, which took place in London on 18 November.

More than a million people reportedly watched the funeral procession from Horse Guards to St Paul’s Cathedral. They buried Wellington there, close to the tomb of Admiral Lord Nelson.