Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount Melville
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| President of the Board of Control | |
| In office 1807–1809 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | The Duke of Portland |
| Preceded by | Thomas Grenville |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Harrowby |
| In office 1809–1812 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Hon. Spencer Perceval |
| Preceded by | The Lord Harrowby |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Buckinghamshire |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | |
| In office 1809–1809 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | The Duke of Portland |
| Preceded by | Hon. Sir Arthur Wellesley |
| Succeeded by | Hon. William Wellesley-Pole |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | |
| In office 1812–1827 |
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| Monarch | George III George IV |
| Prime Minister | The Earl of Liverpool |
| Preceded by | Charles Philip Yorke |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Clarence (Lord High Admiral) |
| In office 1828–1830 |
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| Monarch | George IV |
| Prime Minister | The Duke of Wellington |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Clarence (Lord High Admiral) |
| Succeeded by | Sir James Graham, Bt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1771 Edinburgh, Scotland, Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Died | 10 June 1851 (aged 80) Melville Castle, Midlothian |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6, including Henry, Richard, and Robert |
| Parents | Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville Elizabeth Rannie |
| Alma mater | University of Göttingen University of Edinburgh Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (born March 14, 1771 – died June 10, 1851) was an important British politician. He was the son of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville.
Robert Dundas served as a Member of Parliament for different areas. These included Hastings in 1794, Rye in 1796, and Midlothian in 1801. He also held the role of Keeper of the Signet for Scotland from 1800.
He became a Privy Counsellor in 1807. This is a group of advisors to the British monarch. In 1817, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a group for top scientists. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1821. This is a special award from Scotland. From 1814, he was the Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, a leader at the university.
Melville held many important government jobs. He was the First Lord of the Admiralty twice. This role meant he was in charge of the British Navy. He served from 1812 to 1827 and again from 1828 to 1830.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Robert Dundas was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 14, 1771. He was the only son of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. His mother was Elizabeth Rannie.
He went to the Royal High School in Edinburgh. In 1786, he traveled around Europe with his teacher, John Bruce. He studied at Göttingen University, the University of Edinburgh, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1788, he joined Lincoln's Inn to study law.
After working in law, he became his father's private secretary in 1794. He was also elected as an MP for Hastings in 1794. Then, he became the MP for Rye in 1796.
On August 29, 1796, he married Anne Saunders. They had four sons and two daughters. Their oldest son, Henry Dundas, became an army officer. Their second son, Richard Saunders Dundas, became a top naval officer.
Leading the Board of Control for India
In 1801, Dundas became the Keeper of the Signet for Scotland. He was also elected as an MP for Midlothian. He did not speak much in Parliament at first. But in 1805 and 1806, he spoke to defend his father.
In 1807, the Duke of Portland made him the president of the Board of Control for India. This board managed British India.
His main job was to stop Napoleon from trying to take over British India. Napoleon was allied with Russia at the time. Dundas sent a team to the ruler of Persia, where French agents were present. He also made agreements with leaders in Lahore and Kabul.
He ordered British forces to take control of Portuguese trading posts in India and China. He also took over Dutch Java and French islands like Mauritius and Réunion. This helped protect British trade routes.
Dundas also had to deal with money problems for the East India Company. Trade was difficult during the war. He led a committee that suggested the company should stop its trading rights in India. This idea became law in 1813.
In 1809, Dundas briefly served as Chief Secretary for Ireland. He then returned to the Board of Control. In 1811, he became Viscount Melville after his father passed away. The next year, under Prime Minister Lord Liverpool, he became First Lord of the Admiralty.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Melville's job was to keep Britain's navy strong. Britain had become the most powerful navy after the battle of Trafalgar. In 1813, he warned that France could build a huge fleet if the war continued. This was because France controlled ship-building areas in the Netherlands and Italy.
The Duke of Wellington also complained about not enough protection for supply ships in Spain. This was especially true after the War of 1812 started with the United States. American privateers (private ships allowed to attack enemy ships) caused problems in the Atlantic.
After the wars ended, the navy faced big budget cuts. But Britain still had many naval duties around the world. Melville believed the fleet should not be cut too much. He worked hard to save money while keeping the navy strong.
He improved ship designs to make them last longer. He was very interested in this research. He was careful about using new steam-powered ships at first. He thought they might be too expensive and unreliable. By the late 1820s, he approved building new, larger ships. These ships matched those being built in France and the United States.
Even with tight budgets, he found money for scientific exploration. Many places are named after him because of his interest in Arctic exploration.
Political Changes in Scotland
Melville became a governor of the Bank of Scotland. In 1814, he was chosen as chancellor of the University of St Andrews. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1821.
In 1827, there was a political crisis when George Canning became Prime Minister. Canning wanted to allow Catholics more rights. Melville supported this idea personally. But he felt it would cause problems within the government.
The Whigs in Canning's government thought a Scottish manager like Melville was no longer needed. They believed the Home Secretary could handle Scottish affairs.
Later Years and Retirement
The old way of governing Scotland began to change. Melville returned to government under Wellington and Sir Robert Peel. He was President of the Board of Control in 1828. Then he returned to the Admiralty as First Lord of the Admiralty.
The Reform Act of 1832 changed how Scotland was governed. This meant the Dundas family's power in Scotland would end. Melville resigned from his government roles in 1830. He never held a government job again.
However, he continued to do good work. He led a royal commission in 1845. This group suggested changes to the poor laws in Scotland.
Robert Dundas passed away on June 10, 1851, at Melville Castle. He was buried in his family's vault in the Old Kirk, Lasswade, Edinburghshire. His oldest son, Henry Dundas, inherited his title.
Place Names Honoring Melville
Many places are named after Robert Dundas because of his interest in Arctic exploration:
- Melville Sound in Canada.
- Melville Island in Canada.
- Melville Island in Australia, named by explorer Phillip Parker King.
- Melville Bay in Greenland.
He also gives his name to Melville Street in the New Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland. A large statue of him by Sir John Steell stands in the central square of this street. The area of Melville in Perth, Western Australia, is also named after him.
Images for kids
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The Dundas Vault in old Lasswade Kirkyard, containing the first five Viscounts Melville
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The simple monument to Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, Dundas vault, Old Lasswade Kirkyard
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Statue in Melville Street, Edinburgh
