https://www.heddels.com/2019/02/history-wellington-boots-battlefields-potato-fields/
A painting by James Lonsdale even depicts The Duke wearing a pair of tasseled Hessian boots as he stands victorious at the Battle of Waterloo.
When asked the most important part of a soldier’s equipment, The Duke famously replied: “firstly, a pair of good shoes, second a pair of good shoes, and thirdly a pair of half-soles”. As well as being sturdy enough for battle, these tall, polished leather boots with ornamental details were also formal enough for evening wear.

The Duke of Wellington was so inspired by these German boots that he tasked his shoemaker, George Hoby of St. James’s Street, London, to modify the 18th Century Hessian Boot to bring them up to date. Hoby crafted a Hessian-esque boot from supple calfskin leather treated with wax. The boot’s form was modified to fit more closely around the leg, and the ornamental trims were removed for a more utilitarian look.
The Duke was extremely satisfied, and the boot was christened ‘The Wellington Boot’. Keen to imitate one of Britain’s most respected figures, British gents would sport the Wellington boot as a fashion item, a trend that would continue until the early 1850s.

https://www.heddels.com/2019/02/history-wellington-boots-battlefields-potato-fields/
Billy Connolly - If It Wisnae Fur Yer Wellies - STV Broadcast 1976