[1] After the Duke's death in 1852, in common with other cities, Liverpool decided to erect a monument to celebrate his achievements.

[3] In 1861 a second competition, this time for the statue of the Duke, was won by George Anderson Lawson, brother of the column's designer.

[6] Reliefs depicting Wellington's victories and the charge at the Battle of Waterloo were still to be added and it was finally completed towards the end of 1865.

The east panel lists the battles of Assaye, Talavera, Argaum, Busaco, Roliça, Fuentes de Oñoro, Vimeiro, Ciudad Rodrigo, Oporto, and Badajoz; the west panel Salamanca, Bayonne, Vittoria, Orthez, San Sebastián, Toulouse, Nivelle, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo.

[2] Also on and around the base of the monument are pre-metric standard Board of Trade measurements of length, the shorter ones being embossed on a bronze panel.