Wellington and the Union Flag

Lord Wellington defeated the Emperor Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and the long wars between Britain and France were over. He was the Duke of Wellington, known too as the Iron Duke, and he later became Prime Minister, so the soldier who had beaten Napoleon went on to lead the government he had fought for. Napoleon's defeat settled the long contest between the two countries.

The union of the home nations was completed not long after. Ireland became unified with England, Scotland and Wales in 1801. The Union Flag combines the cross of St George, a red cross on a white ground, with the cross of St Andrew and the cross of St Patrick, bringing the emblems of the home nations together under one design.