Who first said “Publish and be damned”?
The saying “Publish and be damned” is a famous saying attributed to Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. This statement dates back to 1824, when the duke was caught in the middle of a scandal.
Background for the utterance
Arthur Wellesley, better known as the Duke of Wellington, was a prominent British military leader and politician. He gained fame especially during the Napoleonic Wars, and his victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 made him a national hero. In 1824, however, Wellington found himself in the middle of a scandal when a woman named Harriette Wilson, a well-known courtesan, threatened to publish a memoir in which she would reveal details of her relationship with the Duke.
The birth of the statement
Harriette Wilson tried to blackmail Wellington and other powerful men she had been involved with by threatening to reveal their relationship unless they paid her a substantial sum of money. Wellington’s response to this threat was the famous statement: “Publish and be damned”. This response showed his determination and unwillingness to submit to blackmail.
Meaning of the statement
Wellington’s answer has gone down in history as an example of courage and principles. It shows that he was not ready to give in to blackmail, even though it might have damaged his reputation. The statement has since become famous and is often used to describe a situation where someone decides to reveal the truth or publish information, even though it might cause problems or scandals.
