Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey

3.1. Early Military Service and Promotion

At the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, Paget raised a regiment of Staffordshire volunteers, which was formally incorporated into the regular army as the 80th Regiment of Foot in September of that year. In December 1793, he was granted the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel-commandant^English. Under his command, the 80th Regiment of Foot participated in the Flanders Campaign of 1794.

Paget's promotions within the British Army were swift. On 14 April 1795, he was formally commissioned as a lieutenant in the 7th Regiment of Foot. On the very same day, he was promoted to captain in the 23rd Regiment of Foot. Further rapid advancements followed: he became a major in the 65th Regiment of Foot on 19 May 1795, and a lieutenant-colonel in the 80th Regiment of Foot on 30 May 1795. He then transferred to command the 16th Light Dragoons on 15 June 1795. On 3 May 1796, he was promoted to colonel, and on 6 April 1797, he was given command of the 7th Light Dragoons.



During his command of the 7th Light Dragoons, Paget dedicated himself to improving the regiment's discipline and training. His efforts were so successful that Sir John Moore, a later superior, remarked that British cavalry was superior to all French cavalry. Paget also ensured the high quality of the regiment's uniforms, and he continued to wear the regiment's distinctive Paget blue coat^English even into the Victorian era. In October 1799, he commanded a cavalry brigade, consisting of four regiments, at the Battle of Castricum during the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland. Although the overall campaign ended in defeat, Paget's cavalry played a crucial role, successfully charging at the Battle of Alkmaar and covering the retreat, repelling French cavalry under General Simon^French. He was promoted to major-general on 29 April 1802 and lieutenant-general on 25 April 1808.

3.2. Peninsular War

In late 1808, during the Peninsular War, Paget was ordered to lead two cavalry brigades to join Sir David Baird's division. After landing at A Coruña, he successfully linked up with Baird. At this time, Sir John Moore was advancing from Lisbon with an army of 20,000. Baird and Moore intended to merge their forces, but Napoleon Bonaparte's rapid advance forced both Baird and Moore to retreat towards A Coruña and Lisbon, respectively. Napoleon, believing the British were in full retreat, advanced on Madrid, leaving only Marshal Soult and 18,000 troops in northwestern Spain. As British casualties mounted during the retreat, Paget's cavalry demonstrated distinct superiority over their French counterparts.

At the Battle of Sahagún in December 1808, Paget led a regiment in a successful charge against a French cavalry brigade, capturing two French lieutenant colonels and so severely damaging the French chasseurs^French that they ceased to exist as a viable regiment. On 20 December, Baird and Moore successfully linked up at Mayorga^Spanish without Soult's knowledge. However, Napoleon's capture of Madrid on 22 December, followed by his advance with 200,000 troops to clear out the British, forced a renewed British retreat. On 29 December, Paget commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Benavente, where he engaged French cavalry led by Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes. With the bridge over the Esla River destroyed, the French sought a ford. Paget used his pickets to draw the French in, then launched the 10th Hussars from the flank, routing the French and capturing Lefebvre-Desnouettes. Paget continued to command the cavalry during the retreat to Corunna in January 1809. As the British army withdrew into the mountainous region of Galicia, infantry took over the rearguard duties, and Paget, falling ill, could not participate in the final battle. He learned of Moore's death while aboard a ship. This marked his last service in the Peninsular War, as his liaison with Lady Charlotte Wellesley, the wife of Henry Wellesley (Wellington's brother), made it impossible for him to serve under Wellington. His only other war service between 1809 and 1815 was commanding an infantry division during the disastrous Walcheren Campaign in 1809.

3.3. Waterloo and Injury

On 2 January 1815, Paget was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. When Napoleon's Hundred Days campaign began, Paget was appointed cavalry commander in Belgium on 15 April 1815, under the command of Wellington, who still harbored resentment over Paget's affair with his sister-in-law. Paget was subsequently given command of the allied cavalry as well.

He fought at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, though cavalry support for the infantry was delayed due to their scattered positions for forage. On 17 June, he covered the allied retreat from Quatre Bras to Waterloo. Two days later, at the Battle of Waterloo, he led a spectacular charge of the British heavy cavalry against Comte d'Erlon's column, which successfully checked and partially routed the French army. His contributions at Waterloo were considered second only to Wellington's.

Towards the end of the battle, one of the last cannon shots fired that day struck Paget in the right leg, necessitating its amputation that night. During the surgery, he remained stoic and did not utter a single complaint. According to an anecdote, when his leg was hit, he was close to Wellington and exclaimed, "By God, sir, I've lost my leg!^English", to which Wellington reportedly replied, "By God, sir, so you have!^English" His aide-de-camp, Thomas Wildman, recounted that during the amputation, Paget smiled and remarked, "I have had a pretty long run. I have been a beau these forty-seven years and it would not be fair to cut the young men out any longer.^English" Three weeks later, Paget returned to London.

His amputated limb, known as 'Lord Uxbridge's leg', became a macabre tourist attraction in Waterloo, Belgium, where it was later interred. Upon his return to London, Paget commissioned an articulated artificial limb from James Potts. These prosthetic legs, which featured movable joints, became widely known as 'Anglesey legs', and he is credited with popularizing their design. He himself became known as 'One-Leg'. In later years, he reportedly visited the house where his leg was amputated and dined with his sons at the very table that served as his operating table.

3.4. Peak of Military Career and Honors

For his distinguished service at Waterloo and the loss of his leg, the British Parliament approved a pension of 1.20 K GBP for Paget, which he graciously declined. Instead, he was created Marquess of Anglesey on 4 July 1815. On 21 August 1815, he was awarded the Military Order of Maria Theresa from the Austrian Empire and the Order of St. George from the Russian Empire. In 1816, he received the Royal Guelphic Order. He was further honored with the Order of the Garter on 13 March 1818 and was promoted to full general on 12 August 1819.

A monument commemorating his heroism, the Marquess of Anglesey's Column, designed by Thomas Harrison and standing 89 ft ^{(27 m)} high, was erected in 1816 at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll on Anglesey, near Paget's country retreat at Plas Newydd. A bronze statue of the Marquess, sculpted by Matthew Noble, was added atop the column in 1859.

Paget also served as honorary colonel of the 7th Light Dragoons from 1801 to 1842, and subsequently as honorary colonel of the Royal Horse Guards from 1842 until his death in 1854. His final military promotion came on 9 November 1846, when he was appointed Field Marshal.

4.1. Master-General of the Ordnance

In April 1827, Paget joined the Canningite Government, taking up the post of Master-General of the Ordnance. He was also appointed a Privy Councillor at this time. He served in this capacity until February 1828.

His second period as Master-General of the Ordnance began in July 1846, when he joined Lord John Russell's administration, and lasted until March 1852. During this term, he collaborated closely with Wellington to highlight the vulnerabilities of Britain's coastal defenses to both the government and the public. The two conducted inspections of various coastal defense sites. Paget notably described Cherbourg in France as "strongly defended." By this time, both Paget and Wellington suffered from hearing loss, leading to frequent public and private scenes of the "two deaf old noblemen shouting at each other." Paget was the only senior general officer who participated in the Battle of Waterloo to outlive Wellington.

4.2. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

In February 1828, under the Wellington ministry, Paget accepted the appointment of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He held small estates in Ireland. His appointment was made before the new cabinet was formed, and his known support for Catholic emancipation created immediate tension with Prime Minister Wellington and Home Secretary Robert Peel, who opposed it. Before his departure, George IV told Paget he trusted him to be a "true Protestant," to which Paget replied, "I shall not be treated as a Protestant or a Catholic. I have resolved to go to Ireland and act fairly between the two."

As Lord Lieutenant, Paget made proposals for economic development in Ireland, but these were largely ignored. In December 1828, he further strained his relationship with the government by addressing a letter to Patrick Curtis, the Roman Catholic Primate of Ireland, explicitly stating his belief in the necessity of Catholic emancipation. This led to his recall by the government in early January 1829, though the decision for his recall had already been made on 30 December 1828, with the letter merely accelerating his departure. Paget departed Ireland on 19 January. His support for Catholic emancipation made him highly popular in Ireland, and his recall was widely regretted, further boosting his standing among the Irish populace. Although his recall seemed to hinder the cause of Catholic emancipation, Wellington ultimately succeeded in persuading the King, and the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed on 13 April 1829.

Paget was reappointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in November 1830, following the formation of Earl Grey's administration. However, unlike his Chief Secretary for Ireland, Lord Stanley, Paget was not a cabinet minister during this second term. With Catholic emancipation already achieved, Paget focused on fostering reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants. However, he soon faced the challenge of Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association movement, which sought to repeal the Acts of Union 1800. With the support of the cabinet, Paget adopted a firm stance. When O'Connell publicly advocated for a bank run on 14 January 1831, Paget ordered his arrest, stating, "It has come to whether he or I govern Ireland."

The situation shifted dramatically on 1 March 1831, when the cabinet introduced the First Reform Act plan, prompting O'Connell to temporarily suspend the Repeal movement and support the reform bill. Paget also supported electoral reform and advocated for a resolution to the Tithe War, though with limited success on the latter. He voted in favor of the second Reform Act bill in October 1831. Although he sought the passage of a Coercion Act to maintain public order in Ireland, which led to a decline in his popularity, he did not actively enforce the law once it was passed. Paget made significant contributions to the establishment of the Board of Education and successfully implemented a national primary education system, which saw 400,000 children attending national schools in Ireland by 1843. However, Poor Law reform did not advance during his tenure. Paget resigned as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in September 1833, following the overall resignation of the Grey ministry in July of that year.

Paget was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire on 31 January 1849. He finally retired from government in March 1852. He died of a stroke at Uxbridge House in Burlington Gardens, London, on 29 April 1854. His funeral was a state affair, held at the request of Queen Victoria, and he was buried at Lichfield Cathedral on 6 May, where a monument was erected in his honor. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son from his first marriage, Henry.

5.1. First Marriage, Issue, and Divorce

Paget first married Lady Caroline Elizabeth Villiers (16 December 1774 - 16 June 1835) on 5 July 1795, in London. Lady Caroline was the daughter of George Bussy Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey. Together, they had eight children:

• Lady Caroline Paget (6 June 1796 - 12 March 1874), who married Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond. They are ancestors of Diana, Princess of Wales.
• Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey (6 July 1797 - 7 February 1869), who succeeded his father as the 2nd Marquess of Anglesey.
• Lady Jane Paget (13 October 1798 - 28 January 1876), who married Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham.
• Lady Georgina Paget (29 August 1800 - 9 November 1875), who married Edward Crofton, 2nd Baron Crofton.
• Lady Augusta Paget (26 January 1802 - 6 June 1872), who married Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Templemore.
• Lord William Paget (1 March 1803 - 17 May 1873), a Royal Navy officer.
• Lady Agnes Paget (11 February 1804 - 9 October 1845), who married George Byng, 2nd Earl of Strafford.
• Lord Arthur Paget (31 January 1805 - 28 December 1825).

Their marriage, however, was not successful. Paget began an affair with Lady Charlotte Wellesley (1781-1853), who was the wife of Henry Wellesley (brother of the Duke of Wellington) and daughter of Charles Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan. The affair became public and scandalous when Paget and Lady Charlotte eloped in March 1809.

The scandal escalated when Lady Charlotte's brother, Henry Cadogan, challenged Paget to a duel. The duel took place on 30 May 1809, on Wimbledon Common. Both men discharged their pistols, but neither was injured. Cadogan missed, and Paget intentionally fired wide, stating he could not further harm the Wellesley family. Henry Wellesley subsequently had his marriage dissolved by a private Act of Parliament in 1810 and successfully sued Lord Paget for damages amounting to 24.00 K GBP.

Meanwhile, Caroline, Lady Paget, had fallen in love with George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll and was equally eager to divorce Lord Paget. However, she was unable to obtain a divorce in England, as English law at the time only allowed husbands to seek divorce on grounds of adultery alone; for wives, adultery had to be compounded by "life-threatening cruelty." To circumvent this, the Pagets took advantage of Scots law, which offered a more expedited divorce process. Paget and Lady Charlotte stayed together at hotels in Edinburgh and Perthshire, where they were witnessed in bed by chambermaids. To prevent Lady Charlotte from being identified by name, which would have prohibited her from marrying Lord Paget under Scottish law, she "positively refus'd letting Lord Paget domiciliate with any other woman" and concealed her identity, reportedly eating, drinking, and sleeping in a black veil. This allowed witnesses to attest they had no idea of the woman's identity.

5.2. Second Marriage and Issue

The divorce was granted in Scotland, and Lord Paget and Lady Charlotte, who was already pregnant, married in Edinburgh on 15 November 1810. They had ten children, of whom six survived infancy:

• Lady Emily Paget (4 March 1810 - 6 March 1893), who married John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney.
• Lord Clarence Paget (7 June 1811 - 22 March 1895), a naval officer and Member of Parliament.
• Lady Mary Paget (16 June 1812 - 20 February 1859), who married John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich.
• The Hon. Alfred Paget (4 May 1815 - 17 May 1815), who died in infancy.
• Lord Alfred Paget (29 June 1816 - 24 August 1888), an army officer and Member of Parliament.
• Lord George Paget (16 March 1818 - 30 June 1880), a brigadier general in the British Army.
• Lady Adelaide Paget (January 1820 - 21 August 1890), who married Frederick William Cadogan. She was a train-bearer at Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838 and authored the first book of patience games in the English language, as well as other books and plays.
• Lord Albert Augustus William Paget (December 1821 - April 1822), who died in infancy.
• Lord Albert Arthur Paget (29 May 1823 - ?), who died in infancy.
• Lady Eleanor Paget (21 May 1825 - ?), who died in infancy.

Paget's surviving letters indicate his active contribution to the development of Anglesey and Caernarfon, with many residents in both counties benefiting from his patronage.

7.1. Positive Contributions

Paget's military career stands as a testament to his exceptional leadership and tactical acumen, particularly as a cavalry commander. His decisive actions at the Battle of Sahagún and the Battle of Benavente during the Peninsular War demonstrated his cavalry's superiority over their French counterparts, earning him widespread acclaim. His command of the heavy cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo, where he led a crucial charge that significantly impacted the outcome, cemented his reputation as a fearless and effective officer. His dedication to training and disciplining his regiments, notably the 7th Light Dragoons, ensured their high quality and readiness.

Beyond the battlefield, Paget made substantial contributions in public service. His two tenures as Master-General of the Ordnance involved important administrative responsibilities. However, his most impactful civil role was arguably as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Despite facing political opposition and personal challenges, he championed Catholic emancipation, a stance that, while leading to his recall, ultimately aligned with the broader movement for social justice and minority rights. His efforts in establishing a national primary education system in Ireland were particularly significant, providing state-aided education to an estimated 400,000 children by 1843. This initiative profoundly contributed to social welfare and progress in Ireland, demonstrating his commitment to improving the lives of the populace. Furthermore, his personal letters reveal his active involvement in and contributions to the development of Anglesey and Caernarfon, benefiting many residents through his patronage.

7.2. Criticisms and Controversies

Paget's personal life was marked by a highly publicized scandal involving his affair with Lady Charlotte Wellesley, the wife of Henry Wellesley. This affair, which led to a duel and subsequent divorces for both parties under complex legal circumstances, was a significant social controversy of its time. His use of Scots law to expedite his divorce, involving the concealment of Lady Charlotte's identity, highlighted the rigidities and inequities of English divorce law for women at the time.

Politically, Paget faced criticism for his support of the Pains and Penalties Bill 1820 against Queen Caroline, which led to a temporary decline in his popularity. His public retort to a crowd demanding he shout "The Queen!", wishing their wives would "be like her" (implying infidelity), further underscored his controversial stance on the matter. In his second term as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, while advocating for reconciliation, he initially adopted a strong stance against Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association, even ordering O'Connell's arrest. Although he later supported electoral reform and did not actively enforce the Coercion Act he sought, these actions were viewed critically by those advocating for Irish self-determination and civil liberties.