'To the British Nation', 1815

Coloured aquatint by W T Fry and T Sutherland after William Heath, published by J Jenkins, London, 18 June 1817.

The Duke of Wellington with his staff as the Battle of Waterloo rages in the background.

The Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815 was the last great battle of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) and marked the end of France's attempt to dominate Europe. The Allied commander, the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), called the battle 'the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life'. The outcome of the battle was in doubt until late afternoon when Blücher's Prussians arrived in force and broke through Napoleon's right flank.