How did Arthur Wellesley begin his career in the British army?

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Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington, oil on canvas by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

Arthur Wellesley’s military career began after he attended a military academy in France. At the age of 18, he was commissioned into the British army and appointed as an aide-de-camp to the Irish viceroy.1

Following this initial appointment, he advanced his career by purchasing the rank of lieutenant colonel of the 33rd Foot. In this capacity, he gained his first experience with active service during a campaign in Flanders between 1794 and 1795, where he notably learned from the tactical errors of his superiors.1