Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville

Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville
Born 25 February 1801
Died 1 February 1876
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Rank General
Commands held Commander-in-Chief, Scotland
Battles/wars Canadian rebellion
Awards Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
The grave of General Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville, Dundas Vault, Old Lasswade Kirkyard

Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville GCB (25 February 1801 1 February 1876)[1] was a British military leader.

Military career

Born the eldest son of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, Dundas joined the Army as a lieutenant in the 3rd (or Scots) Guards in 1819.[2] He was promoted to captain of the 83rd Regiment in 1824, major in 1826 and lieutenant-colonel in 1829. In 1837 he was active in suppressing the Canadian rebellion, after which he was appointed colonel and aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria in 1841.[2]

He played a distinguished part in India as a brigadier-general in 1848–49, chosen to command the column sent from Bombay to co-operate with Lord Gough's army in the Second Anglo-Sikh War. He was second in command at the capture of Multan and then joined the main army with his force for the battle of Gujrat.[2]

He returned to England in 1850 and became 3rd Viscount Melville on his father's death in 1851. He became Commander-in-Chief, Scotland in 1854[3] remaining in that post until 1860, in which year he was made Governor of Edinburgh Castle.[2] He was raised to the rank of general in 1868.[2]

He died unmarried at Melville Castle, near Edinburgh in 1876. He is buried in the simple Dundas Vault in Old Lasswade Kirkyard, together with his ancestors and descendants.

His younger brother, Richard Saunders Dundas was a prominent naval officer.

Parliament

He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochester from 1826 to 1830,[4] and for Winchelsea from 1830 to 1831.[5]

References

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Lord Binning
Ralph Bernal
Member of Parliament for Rochester
18261830
With: Ralph Bernal
Succeeded by
Lord Villiers
Ralph Bernal
Preceded by
Viscount Howick
John Williams
Member of Parliament for Winchelsea
1830 – 1831
With: John Williams
Succeeded by
Stephen Lushington
John Williams
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robert Dundas
Viscount Melville
18511876
Succeeded by
Robert Dundas
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Thomas Napier
Commander-in-Chief, Scotland
18541860
Succeeded by
Sir Duncan Cameron