Charles Dundas, 1st Baron Amesbury
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Charles Dundas, 1st Baron Amesbury (5 August 1751 – 7 July 1832), British politician.
Charles was a younger son of Thomas Dundas of Fingask, MP for Orkney and Shetland (1768–1771) and a commissioner of police in Scotland (31 January 1771), who died on 10 April 1786. His mother was his father's second wife, Janet, daughter of Charles Maitland, 6th Earl of Lauderdale.
He was called to the bar, but devoted himself to a political life. He first sat for the borough of Richmond in 1774, Orkney and Shetland in 1780, Richmond again in 1784–1786, and finally for Berkshire, which he represented in ten successive parliaments (1794–1832). He was, finally, the second eldest member in the house.
Dundas was a liberal in politics. In 1802, on the resignation of Mitford (afterwards Lord Redesdale), the then speaker, he was nominated, by Sheridan, as his successor in opposition to Abbot. He, however, withdrew from the contest. Dundas was Counsellor of State for Scotland to the Prince of Wales, and colonel of the White Horse volunteer cavalry.
He was the first chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company and the Dundas Aqueduct was named after him.
Dundas was twice married. His first wife, Anne, daughter of Ralph Whitley of Aston Hall, Flintshire, by whom he had one daughter, Janet, wife of Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas, who brought him the considerable estate of Kintbury-Amesbury (otherwise Barton Court) in Berkshire as well as other property. His second wife, whom he married on 25 January 1822, was his cousin, Margaret, daughter of Charles Barclay and widow of (firstly) Charles Ogilvy and (secondly) Major Archibald Erskine. Dundas was made a peer as Baron Amesbury by letters patent 11 May 1832. He died 7 July 1832 at his residence in Pimlico, whereupon the title became extinct. Lady Amesbury died 14 April 1841.
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| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt Thomas Dundas |
Member of Parliament for Richmond with Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt 1775 William Norton 1775–1780 1775–1780 |
Succeeded by Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt Marquess of Graham |
| Preceded by Robert Baikie |
Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland 1780–1784 |
Succeeded by Thomas Dundas |
| Preceded by George Fitzwilliam Marquess of Graham |
Member of Parliament for Richmond with The Earl of Inchiquin 1784–1786 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Inchiquin Sir Grey Cooper |
| Preceded by George Vansittart Winchcombe Henry Hartley |
Member of Parliament for Berkshire with George Vansittart 1794–1801 1794–1801 |
Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain |
Member of Parliament for Berkshire with George Vansittart 1801–1812 Richard Griffin 1812–1825 Robert Palmer 1825–1831 Robert George Throckmorton 1831–1832 1801–1832 |
Succeeded by Robert George Throckmorton Robert Palmer |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New title | Baron Amesbury 1832 |
Extinct |
