American Toby Jug Museum 

Wellington character jug modeled by William K. Harper and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, in a 1995 limited edition of 2,500 commissioned by Lawleys By Post. The great British general, Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), the first Duke of Wellington, was a brilliant soldier. Wellington joined the army in 1787, gained experience in India and was awarded a knighthood for his services. He became a Member of Parliament in 1805, but in 1809 was asked to return to command the British Army in the Peninsular War in Spain, where his army successfully drove out the invading French. In 1814 he was granted the title of Duke of Wellington. When Napoleon escaped from Elba, Wellington, through his sheer determination and brilliant strategy, defeated him at Waterloo in 1815 in a historic battle that determined the fate of Europe. His military prowess earned him the nickname The Iron Duke. Resuming his political career, Wellesley was Prime Minister of England from 1828 to 1830 and again for a few months in 1834. He retired from public life in 1846. A gold crown above scroll form the handle of this jug.