Mourning and Merchandising: Wellington’s London Funeral and the Case of the Illustrated London News

Abstract

Examines the Duke of Wellington’s state funeral as a cultural moment, not only an unparalleled funerary spectacle read by the Victorians themselves as an unforgettable moment of heroic commemoration, but also as an event that solidified London’s reputation as a global metropolitan center. Argues that Wellington’s funeral procession functioned as a celebration of London’s main thoroughfares, while his laying-to-rest served also as an opportunity for 1.5 million spectators to converge on the capital, further signaling London’s dominance.