The term dandy meant vastly different things from its inception in the late 1790s to its heyday in 1819. It was largely superseded by the term beau 1810-1815, and then resurrected by post-period writers to each of whom, as we have seen, it signified something different. It is significant that Beau Brummell was called ‘Beau’, as was Wellington, ‘The Beau’ by his contemporaries, or occasionally, ‘The Peer’. Wellington was often portrayed as dressing simply, in white pantaloons, hessians, blue frock and white neck-cloth and cocked hat. [...]
The dress he wore for the battlefield and for campaigning would have been entirely in place on Bond Street among the beaux of the ton, admittedly with the addition of some military trappings, such as the sash and sword. He was an early adopter of fashion, if not an innovator. It is certain that he set the pattern for the young officers of the army, who wanted to cut a dash by imitating their leader. They talked of ‘the true Wellington pattern cocked hat’, the ‘Wellington boot’, the ‘Wellington pelisse’, and so on.
— Ben Townsend, Fashioning Regulation, Regulating Fashion: The Uniforms and Dress of the British Army 1800-1815: Volume II
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by Charles Turner, after Juan Bauzil (or Bauziel), hand-coloured mezzotint, published 1817. (National Portrait Gallery)
Bauzil, Juan, active 1816. Bauzil, Juan, fl 1816 :Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington. Engraved by Chas. Turner; [painted] by Bauzit [ie Bauzil]. London, published April 16th 1816 by the Proprietor Chas Turner.. Ref: C-021-001. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
