Charles Dundas, 1st Baron Amesbury (5 August 1751 – 7 July 1832) was a British politician.
Contents |
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 educated at Edinburgh Academy and Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] He was called to the bar from the Middle Temple, but devoted himself to a political life.
Dundas 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. He 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 raised to the peerage as Baron Amesbury, of Kintbury, Amesbury, and Barton Court in the County of Berkshire, and of Aston Hall in the County of Flint, on 11 May 1832.[2] Apart from his political career he was also the first chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company and the Dundas Aqueduct was named after him.
Lord Amesbury 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. He died 7 July 1832 at his residence in Pimlico, whereupon the title became extinct. Lady Amesbury died 14 April 1841.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Lawrence Dundas, Bt Thomas Dundas |
Member of Parliament for Richmond 1775–1780 With: William Norton 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 1784–1786 With: The Earl of Inchiquin |
Succeeded by The Earl of Inchiquin Sir Grey Cooper |
| Preceded by George Vansittart Winchcombe Henry Hartley |
Member of Parliament for Berkshire 1794–1801 With: George Vansittart 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 1801–1832 With: George Vansittart 1801–1812 Richard Griffin 1812–1825 Robert Palmer 1825–1831 Robert George Throckmorton 1831–1832 |
Succeeded by Robert George Throckmorton Robert Palmer |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New title | Baron Amesbury 1832 |
Extinct |