Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1760-1811] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dundas was admitted to the Scottish Bar in 1763, was appointed Solicitor-General for Scotland in 1766 and Lord Advocate in 1775. He represented Edinburghshire, 1774 to 1782, Newtown, Isle of Wight, 1782, Edinburghshire, 1783 to 1790 and Edinburgh, 1790 to 1802. He first held office in 1782 when he was appointed Treasurer of the Navy for a short time under Shelburne and resumed office under Pitt in December, 1783, holding it continuously until June 1800. He was also Home Secretary, 1791 to 1794, and Secretary of War, 1794 to 1801. In 1804 he was made First Lord of the Admiralty. When the Commission of Naval Enquiry published its tenth report dealing with the office of Treasurer of the Navy, Dundas resigned from office. He was impeached in 1806 and, although acquitted, it was clear that he was guilty of negligent supervision during his term of office. He held no further appointment.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0064 MEL/1-10 [1760-1811] Subfonds 4 boxes Dundas , Henry , 1742-1811 , 1st Viscount Melville (First Lord Of The Admiralty)
Dundas was admitted to the Scottish Bar in 1763, was appointed Solicitor-General for Scotland in 1766 and Lord Advocate in 1775. He represented Edinburghshire, 1774 to 1782, Newtown, Isle of Wight, 1782, Edinburghshire, 1783 to 1790 and Edinburgh, 1790 to 1802. He first held office in 1782 when he was appointed Treasurer of the Navy for a short time under Shelburne and resumed office under Pitt in December, 1783, holding it continuously until June 1800. He was also Home Secretary, 1791 to 1794, and Secretary of War, 1794 to 1801. In 1804 he was made First Lord of the Admiralty. When the Commission of Naval Enquiry published its tenth report dealing with the office of Treasurer of the Navy, Dundas resigned from office. He was impeached in 1806 and, although acquitted, it was clear that he was guilty of negligent supervision during his term of office. He held no further appointment.
The papers were bought at Sotheby's in 1931, 1932 and 1960.
Papers of Henry Dundas, consisting of miscellaneous letters and documents relating to Dundas' official career as a naval administrator, 1760 to 1811. A further section was purchased from Madame Elisabeth La Serre in 1976. It consists of letters received between 1794 and 1806, from, among others, Admirals Cornwallis (q.v.), Duncan (q.v.), Orde (q.v.), Keith (q.v.), and Hallowell (q.v.), as well as a number of ship lists.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
The main Dundas collections are held in the Scottish Record Office and the National Library of Scotland.
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jun 2011. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 2010-08-26 Elphinstone , George Keith , 1746-1823 , 1st Viscount Keith , Admiral Orde , Sir , John , 1751-1824 , Knight , Admiral , Governor of Dominica Cornwallis , Sir , William , 1744-1819 , Knight , Admiral Social sciences Dundas , Henry , 1742-1811 , 1st Viscount Melville , Scots statesman x Melville , 1st Viscount Military science Naval affairs Military affairs Carew , Sir , Benjamin Hallowell , 1760-1834 , Knight , Admiral
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were bought at Sotheby's in 1931, 1932 and 1960.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Henry Dundas, consisting of miscellaneous letters and documents relating to Dundas' official career as a naval administrator, 1760 to 1811. A further section was purchased from Madame Elisabeth La Serre in 1976. It consists of letters received between 1794 and 1806, from, among others, Admirals Cornwallis (q.v.), Duncan (q.v.), Orde (q.v.), Keith (q.v.), and Hallowell (q.v.), as well as a number of ship lists.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The main Dundas collections are held in the Scottish Record Office and the National Library of Scotland.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English