Memoir of the Early Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington in Portugal and Spain

A landmark in Napoleonic War literature, Memoir of the Early Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington in Portugal and Spain by Lord Westmorland provides a vivid primary source on the decisive campaigns in Portugal and Spain. The British landing in Portugal in 1808 marked the beginning of the long Peninsular War and represented a crucial turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. Despite the apparent dominance established by the Peace of Tilsit, Napoleon’s empire could not achieve lasting control without securing Spain and Portugal. Britain’s intervention was vital in preventing total French hegemony and safeguarding strategic and economic interests across the continent.

For Britain, the Peninsular War ensured dominance in the Mediterranean and preserved Portugal as a key gateway for British trade during the Continental Blockade. The French presence beyond the Pyrenees directly threatened London’s commercial and strategic lifelines. Within this historical context, the campaigns of Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, gained unparalleled military and political importance.

Lord Westmorland’s memoir is particularly significant because it combines the perspective of a participant with privileged access to high command. Although he held a modest rank, his familial connection to Wellington—his wife’s uncle—allowed him unique insight into strategic decisions and battlefield operations. With immediacy, wit, and precision, he recounts marches, battles, hardships, and triumphs, providing scholars and enthusiasts of military history with an invaluable eyewitness record of the Peninsular War.

About the Author – Lord Westmorland (1791–1859)
John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland, was a British officer, politician, and diplomat. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, he served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars, gaining direct experience of the campaigns in Portugal and Spain. His aristocratic lineage and connection to the Duke of Wellington afforded him privileged access to commanders and political figures of the era. Following his military service, Westmorland entered public life, serving in Tuscany, Prussia, and Austria, and participating in key diplomatic events, including the Congress of 1855. His Memoir remains a rare and insightful record of the Wellington campaigns, highly prized by collectors, historians, and readers of Napoleonic military literature.

This edition appeals to students of military history, collectors of rare Napoleonic War literature, and general readers interested in the early campaigns of the Duke of Wellington. Combining firsthand testimony, literary skill, and historical significance, it offers a detailed account of strategy, battle, and the human dimensions of warfare.

DESCRIPTION

The Rambler Press edition of Memoir of the Early Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington in Portugal and Spain is a limited collector’s edition produced with precise craftsmanship. The volume measures 175 × 250 mm and comprises 160 pages. It is hand-bound in half-leather with tinted edges and presented in a protective slipcase. The text is set in Brunel Text Roman No. 2 and printed on high-quality cotton paper by Zuber Rieder. This edition is strictly limited to 25 copies.