Henry Wellesley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1st Baron Cowley | |
| Born | 20 January 1773 |
| Died | 27 April 1847 (aged 74) |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Charlotte Cadogan Lady Georgiana Cecil |
| Issue | Henry Wellesley, 1st Earl Cowley Captain Hon. William Henry George Wellesley Gerald Wellesley |
| Father | Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington |
| Mother | Anne Hill-Trevor |
Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley GCB (20 January 1773 – 27 April 1847) was an Anglo-Irish diplomat and politician. He was the younger brother of the soldier and politician the first Duke of Wellington. He is known particularly for his service as British Ambassador to Spain during the Peninsular War where he acted in cooperation with his brother to gain the support of Cortes of Cádiz. His later postings included being Ambassador in Vienna where he dealt with Metternich and British Ambassador to France during the reign of Louis Philippe I.
His career was closely connected with that of his elder brothers Arthur and Richard Wellesley, who served as Foreign Secretary between 1809 and 1812. He became embroiled in a public scandal in 1809 when his wife Charlotte eloped with Henry Paget who as Lord Uxbridge was later to serve as cavalry commander under his brother at the Battle of Waterloo.