Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. He is commemorated by one of the most prominent memorials in Edinburgh, the 150-foot high, Category A listed Melville Monument at St Andrew Square, in the heart of the New Town he helped to establish. Background and education[edit] Legal career[edit] Becoming a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1763, he soon acquired a leading position in the Scottish legal system; and he had the advantage of the success of his half-brother Robert (1713–1787), who had become Lord President of the Court of Session in 1760. He became Solicitor General for Scotland in 1766; but after his appointment as Lord Advocate in 1775, he gradually relinquished his legal practice to devote his attention more exclusively to public affairs. Political career[edit] Family[edit] Lord Melville's first marriage was to Elizabeth, daughter of David Rannie, of Melville Castle, in 1765.
After this divorce he married again, to Lady Jane Hope, daughter of John Hope, 2nd Earl of Hopetoun, in 1793. Legacy[edit] See also[edit] Overview of Henry Dundas. Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland. A biography of Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville. Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount Melville was born in 1742. He was a lawyer and a skilled politician who dominated Scottish politics at the end of the 18th century. He used his position to elevate many Scots in the East India Company and built a loyal following amongst Scottish MP's. He served as MP for Midlothian from 1774 to 1779 and for Edinburgh from 1790 to 1802. He was good friends with the British Prime Minister, Pitt the Younger and apparently the two regularly attended debates in the House of Commons while drunk. Dundas served in Pitt's cabinet in 1791 as secretary of state for the Home department and he was the War Secretary from 1794 to 1801.
He was elevated to the peerage in 1802 as Viscount Melville however in 1806 he was impeached for misappropriation of funds and although acquitted he never held office again. His power in Scotland was for a time unrivalled and he was known as "the uncrowned king of Scotland" and "Harry the ninth". The Daily Sir Walter: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Henry Dundas | Highland Strathearn. From Tom A’ Chasteil and looking towards the north-west one sees Dunmore Hill, an eminence that provides a panoramic view of Comrie, Highland and Lower Strathearn, Glen Lednock and Glen Artney. At its summit stands the 72 foot obelisk commemorating the life of Henry Dundas, Baron Dunira, and Viscount Melville.
Henry Dundas, a scion of the landed class, was born on April 28th, in 1742 in Edinburgh, into a family of well known lawyers who for generations came from Arniston in West Lothian - it was said they could trace their genealogy back to the time of the Norman Conquest. Later his family was allied with William Wallace and the Bruces and was well rewarded for their services to the latter. Amongst his forebears was Sir William Dundas who was killed at Flodden along with 10,000 Flowers of Scotland. He remarried in June 1734 and his second wife, Anne Gordon, daughter of Sir William Gordon. Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville His Lordship was upwards of 70 years of age. Individual record Dundas JamesIndividual record Dundas JamesIndividual record Dundas JamesIndividual record Dundas JanetIndividual record Dundas JanetIndividual record Dundas Janet MaitlandIndividual record Dundas JeanIndividual record Dundas JohnIndividu.
"Romantic-Engagement of Viscount Melville Is Announced Edinburgh, Oct. 29; The romantic engagement of a Scottish peer, to an Edinburgh shop assistant has been announced and it is understood that the marriage is shortly to take place. Both parties are very reticent, and decline to discuss the matter, but the fact is admitted by the bride-elect. The peer is Viscount Melville, of Melville Castle, Lasswade, and Cotterstock Hall, Northamptonshire, and his future bride is Miss Margaret Todd, of Thlrlestane road, Edinburgh, who, until a fortnight ago, was an assistant in the business of Messrs.
Edwin Pass and-Son, perfumers and hairdressers, Princes street, Edinburgh. Lord Melville was a patron of Messrs. Pass, and the attachment between him and Miss Todd was doubtless the result of their occasional meetings there. Reno Evening Gazette, 15/10/1920: "BARBERSHOP GIRL TO WEAR CORONET OF AGED SCOTCH NOBLE. Margaret Dundas nee Todd, Viscountess Melville. ScotlandsPeople Centre: Famous Scots Archive, C-D alphabetic list. David Calderwood (1575-1650) Minister · Church historian David Calderwood was minister of Crailing, near Jedburgh in the Borders, from 1604.
His Presbyterian convictions led him to fall foul of King James VI. He was locked up, then banished to Holland. There he published his Altare Damascenum (1625), which was an argument for all his religious views. He returned to Scotland following the death of James in 1625. As minister for Pencaitland he spent the rest of his life working on his History of the Church of Scotland.
View will and testament:Transcript · Page 1 · Page 2 · Page 3 · Page 4 · Page 5 Archibald Campbell (1658-1703) Landowner · Privy councillor Archibald Campbell was tenth Earl and first Duke of Argyll. View will and testament:Transcript · Page 1 · Page 2 · Page 3 · Page 4 · Page 5 Further reading Carstares, William: State-papers and letters, addressed to William Carstares; confidential secretary to King William, (Edinburgh, 1774) Alexander Carlyle (1722-1805) Jim Clark (1936-1968) Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos: Lord Melville. 1st Viscount: Henry Dundas Melville. 1742-1811. 2nd Viscount: Robert Saunders Dundas Melville. 1771-1851. Henry Dundas Melville His political influence was extensive in the Pitt ministry. A close personal friend of Pitt and second to him in the House of Commons. he dominated Scottish politics, controlled Indian affairs; and played a major role in the conduct of the war with France. Robert Saunders Dundas Robert continued the family's position of political and legal eminence.
An able, innovative administrator, he made his greatest contribution as First Lord of the Admiralty. 1771: Born only son of Henry Private secretary to this father 1796: MP for Rye 1800: Joint Keeper of the signet for Scotland 1807-12: Member of the Privy Council 1809? Dundas, Henry genealogy family Scotland s People. The soubriquets 'uncrowned king of Scotland' and 'Harry the ninth' were applied to the man whose political power was unrivalled in Scotland during his ascendancy.Henry Dundas received his education at Edinburgh High School and University and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates 1763.
He served as MP for Midlothian from 1774-9 and for Edinburgh from 1790-1802. During his highly successful political career he served in the Cabinet as Home Secretary 1791-4 and as Secretary of War 1794-1801 during the early phases of the Napoleonic wars. He was also involved in Imperial affairs. He was a proponent of harsh punishment for the rebellious colonists in the Americas and, with the Prime Minister, William Pitt, brought the East India Company under the supervision of Parliament in 1783. It was principally due to his patronage that so many of his countrymen gained employment in the British territories of the Indian subcontinent. View transcript. Henry Dundas of Melville 1st Viscount Melville PC - I13720 - Individual Information - PhpGedView.
History of the Dundas Clan. The name Dundas (the emphasis should be on the second syllable) is derived from a place name near Edinburgh which, in Gaelic was "dun deas" (south fort). The first record of the name is Helias de Dundas in the reign of William the Lion in 1200. He may have been a descendant of Gospatrick, earl of March. His descendants styled themselves as Dundas of that Ilk, signifying the head of a landed family and held their property until the 19th century. In the reign of King James III, Sir Archibald Dundas was a favourite of the king and was sent on missions to England.
James IV later gave a grant of lands to the Dundas family. The main branches of the family can be found in Duddingston in Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Blair Castle, Arniston and in Fingask in Perthshire. The 18th Laird of Dundas supported the cause of the Covenanters and was a member of the committee which tried the first Marquis of Montrose when he refused to support the extreme aspects of Presbyterianism. Dundas Clan Crest and Motto | Dundas Tartan and Family Gifts. Dundas Crest: A lion's head, affrontée, looking through a bush of oak, Proper. Dundas Clan Motto: Essayez (Try).
Dundas Clan History: One Uthred or Huctred, obtained the lands of Dundas from Waldeve, son of Gospatrick, Earl of Dunbar, most probably in the reign of Malcolm IV. It is generally accepted that he was Waldeve's younger brother. Helias de Dundas, son of Uthred, witnessed a gift to the monks of Dunfermline between 1202 and 1214, and was confirmed in the lands of Dundas and assumed than name and designation, his son Saer de Dundas rendered homage to Edward I in 1296, and his son Sir Hugh de Dundas was a follower of Sir William Wallace.
His son, George, was killed at the Battle of Duplin in 1332. Around 1364, the Barony of Fingask was acquired by John de Dundas, whose son James in 1424, rebuilt and fortified Dundas Castle at South Queensferry. In the 15th century, Sir Archibald Dundas was sent on a series of important missions to England by James III. Follow Us. Biography of Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville. Biography of Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811) was Rector of the University from 1781 to 1783. Born in Dalkeith, the half-brother of the influential Robert Dundas (1713-1787), Henry studied at the University of Edinburgh and became a lawyer. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in 1766 and Lord Advocate in 1775. Dundas went on to become a close friend and ally of the Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, under whom he served as Secretary of State for the Home Department, War Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty.
University Connections University Roles. Gb237-coll-430 - Papers relating to Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811) Scope and Content The papers are composed of: a letter to an unnamed correspondent mentioning Sir Joseph Banks, 1791; letters to Lt. Governor Wentworth regarding the militia in Nova Scotia, 1793-1794; a letter to W. A. Jackson, Wimbledon, 1800; a letter of Dundas, 1811; and, a document signed by Dundas and King George III, granting a military post to T. Brisbane, 1791. Administrative / Biographical History Henry Dundas was born on 28 April 1742. Conditions Governing Access Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance. Acquisition Information Document signed by Dundas and George III, purchased 1964, Accession no. Accruals Check the local Indexes for details of any additions. Other Finding Aid Related Material There is also correspondence to Dundas in Laing and elsewhere, namely: fragment of a bill for Cabinet expenses, 1794, at Gen. 863/8/16; letter from E.
Dundas is mentioned in some correspondence: in a letter from J. Note. Traditional Scottish Songs - Willie's Gane to Melville Castle. Overview of Melville Monument. PLACES OF INTEREST MELVILLE MONUMENT. Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Your Paintings - Henry Dundas (1742–1811), 1st Viscount Melville, Statesman. Search object details. Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, 1742 - 1811. Statesman − David Martin − M. No one in late eighteenth century Scotland was as powerful as Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Trained as a lawyer, Dundas moved speedily into politics. Solicitor-General at twenty-four, Lord Advocate at thirty-three, Dundas became the 'intimate friend and trusted lieutenant' of the British prime minister, William Pitt. He controlled Scottish elections and patronage and was widely known as 'Harry the Ninth, the uncrowned King of Scotland'.
David Martin (Scottish, 1737 - 1797) David Martin was born in Anstruther, Fife, the son of a schoolmaster. He trained under Allan Ramsay, working in his fellow Scot's London studio from about 1752. University of Glasgow :: International Story :: Image: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville - Henry Raeburn. 'Dun-Shaw' (Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville) , Gillray c/o National Portrait Gallery. Portrait - NPG D13012; 'Wha wants me?' (Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; William Pitt) Artwork - no title [ Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville 1742-1811 ] Your Paintings - Henry Dundas (1742–1811), 1st Viscount Melville. Your Paintings - Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. 'The 1st Viscount Melville', Sir Henry Raeburn.