Dundas Island (British Columbia) facts for kids

Dundas Island is a cool island located on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It's found on the west side of Chatham Sound, not too far from the city of Prince Rupert. It's the biggest island in a group of islands all called the Dundas Islands.

The Story Behind the Name

Dundas Island and the islands around it got their name way back in 1792. A famous explorer named Captain George Vancouver named them. He wanted to honor a very important person named Henry Dundas.

Who Was Henry Dundas?

Henry Dundas (1742–1811) was a powerful politician in Britain. He held an important job called the Treasurer of the Navy from 1783 to 1801. This meant he was in charge of the money for the British Navy. Later, he was given the special title of Viscount Melville. He was also known as Baron Dunira.

The Dundas Islands Group

When Captain Vancouver first explored the area, he thought all these islands were just one big island. So, he called it "Dundas's Island." But actually, there are many smaller islands in the group. These include Baron Island, Dunira Island, and Melville Island. You can find them on the west side of Chatham Sound, between Brown and Caamaño Passages.

Other Places Named Dundas

Did you know that another island in northern Canada, Dundas Island in Nunavut, is also named after Henry Dundas? His son, Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, also had places named after him. These include Melville Island in Canada (in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and Melville Island in Australia.