Duke of Wellington (1769 - 1852)
Initiated 1790, Lodge at Trim No. 494, Meath, Ireland
Hi father and brothers were Masters of the same lodge, but after joining he never attended another meeting.
In 1838, a lodge in Dublin wanted to change its name to Wellington Lodge, so they wrote him a letter asking for his blessing. The letter that Wellington wrote in response leaves no doubt that he wished to distance himself from the Craft: "The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. Carleton. He perfectly recollects that he was admitted to the lowest grade of Free Masonry in a lodge which was formed at Trim in the County of Meath. He has never since attended a Lodge of Free Masons... (naming the Lodge after him) would be a ridiculous assumption of the reputation of being attached to Free Masonry, in addition to being a misrepresentation."
Hi father and brothers were Masters of the same lodge, but after joining he never attended another meeting.
In 1838, a lodge in Dublin wanted to change its name to Wellington Lodge, so they wrote him a letter asking for his blessing. The letter that Wellington wrote in response leaves no doubt that he wished to distance himself from the Craft: "The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. Carleton. He perfectly recollects that he was admitted to the lowest grade of Free Masonry in a lodge which was formed at Trim in the County of Meath. He has never since attended a Lodge of Free Masons... (naming the Lodge after him) would be a ridiculous assumption of the reputation of being attached to Free Masonry, in addition to being a misrepresentation."
