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Wellington's administration lasted two years, characterised
by high drama over the granting of Catholic emancipation and
a stubborn and ultimately doomed resistance to increasingly
frantic demands for electoral reform and abolition of the
Corn Laws both in the nation and among the political opposition.
Wellington's role was that of a pragmatic conservative reluctantly
pushed by events into accepting reform. However, the truth
is probably that he was perhaps more politically nuanced and
sophisticated that some have suggested. Significantly, his
experience as a protestant in an Ireland that had witnessed
rebellion and mob violence only thirty years before, alerted
him to the dangers of resisting an irresistible force.
Wellington's period as Prime Minister came to an end in 1830
following the death of George IV. Having set his face against
the new Whig government's electoral reform bill, Apsley House
felt the fury of the mob as the windows were pelted with stones
a year later. Hours before, the sick Kitty had died with Wellington
in attendance.
The Duke was undoubtedly uncomfortable with politics - subordinates
invariably did not do as they were told. Nevertheless, he
had quickly learned to deal with the political repercussions
of military command, and was an experienced campaigner by
the time he was appointed Prime Minister in 1828.
While his witty asides and appeals to public opinion were
largely unscripted moments of theatre, he understood their
power. Despite his bluff exterior, he was protective of his
reputation but not above exploiting it for his own advantage.
Fundamentally, Wellington approached his political career
as a duty that he owed to the nation.
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