Subfonds GB 0064 MEL/1-10 - Dundas, Henry, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 MEL/1-10

Title

Dundas, Henry, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811)

Date(s)

  • [1760-1811] (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

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.

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.

Related descriptions

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

National Maritime Museum

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area