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Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

(1742-1811), Statesman

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 82 portraits
Henry Dundas held a prominent position in Scotland's legal system before moving into politics. His interest in Scottish affairs saw him establish Scottish power and influence in government. In 1781 he repealed the Disarming Act to allow Highlanders to wear kilts and tartans again; lobbied for the restoration of forfeited Jacobite estates to their rightful owners; promoted the foundation of the Highland Society and the British Fisheries Society; and encouraged Thomas Telford to improve communication systems with the north. He deplored the Highland Clearances and heavy Scottish emigration to America. Dundas began his political career at the outbreak of the American War of Independence and became an important ally, adviser and friend to the Prime Minister, William Pitt. In 1784 he helped pass the India Act that established the system of Imperial administration. The Act gave the East India Company greater independence while creating a Board of Control to oversee matters rather than direct rule by government. The Board, however, was made up of key political figures including Dundas and Pitt. The structure would remain unaltered until the Indian Rebellion of 1857. When Wilberforce called for the abolition of the slave trade in 1792, Dundas as Home Secretary agreed with Wilberforce in principle but not in means. Rather than an immediate end he felt it should be abolished gradually so as not to undermine the economy. He voted against Wilberforce in 1796. Abolition of the transatlantic slave trade was not achieved until 1807. In 1794 Pitt made Dundas the first Secretary of State for War and in 1806 he was impeached for misappropriation of public funds. Although acquitted, he never held public office again.

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Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by James Sayers, published by  Charles Bretherton - NPG D9858

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
etching, published 6 April 1782
NPG D9858

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by James Heath, published by  J. Walker, after  Dodd - NPG D15644

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

by James Heath, published by J. Walker, after Dodd
line engraving, published 31 August 1782
NPG D15644

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by James Sayers, published by  Charles Bretherton - NPG D16521

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
coloured etching, 1782
NPG D16521

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by John Raphael Smith, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D19829

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

by John Raphael Smith, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1782)
NPG D19829

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by John Raphael Smith, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D38365

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

by John Raphael Smith, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1 July 1783 (1782)
NPG D38365

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by John Raphael Smith, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D38366

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

by John Raphael Smith, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1 July 1783 (1782)
NPG D38366

'Anticipation, or the approaching fate of the French Commercial Treaty', by James Gillray, published by  William Holland - NPG D12356

'Anticipation, or the approaching fate of the French Commercial Treaty'

by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 1787?
NPG D12356

'The board of controul, or the blessings of a Scotch dictator', by James Gillray, published by  R. Phillips - NPG D12359

'The board of controul, or the blessings of a Scotch dictator'

by James Gillray, published by R. Phillips
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 March 1787
NPG D12359

'The Prince at Grasse', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12362

'The Prince at Grasse'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12362

'The Prince in Clover', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12363

'The Prince in Clover'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12363

'Dido forsaken', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12994

'Dido forsaken'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 21 May 1787
NPG D12994

'Ancient music', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D13060

'Ancient music'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 10 May 1787
NPG D13060

'Ancient music', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D14861

'Ancient music'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
etching, published 10 May 1787
NPG D14861

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville ('Dun-Shaw'), by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12375

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville ('Dun-Shaw')

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, aquatint and soft-ground etching, published 7 March 1788
NPG D12375

'Market day', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12377

'Market day'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 May 1788
NPG D12377

'State-jugglers', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12381

'State-jugglers'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 16 May 1788
NPG D12381

'-Coaches', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12383

'-Coaches'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 20 May 1788
NPG D12383

'John-Bull, baited by the dogs of excise', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12408

'John-Bull, baited by the dogs of excise'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 9 April 1790
NPG D12408

'Wierd sisters; ministers of darkness; minions of the moon', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12436

'Wierd sisters; ministers of darkness; minions of the moon'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 23 December 1791
NPG D12436

'Malagrida, driving post', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12441

'Malagrida, driving post'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and soft-ground etching, published 16 March 1792
NPG D12441

'Scotch Harry's news; - or - nincumpoop in high glee', by James Gillray, published by  James Aitken - NPG D12455

'Scotch Harry's news; - or - nincumpoop in high glee'

by James Gillray, published by James Aitken
hand-coloured etching, published 23 May 1792
NPG D12455

'Sin, Death, and the Devil', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12458

'Sin, Death, and the Devil'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 June 1792
NPG D12458

'The dagger scene; - or - the plot discover'd', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12467

'The dagger scene; - or - the plot discover'd'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 30 December 1792
NPG D12467

'Wha wants me?' (Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; William Pitt), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13012

'Wha wants me?' (Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; William Pitt)

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1792
NPG D13012

'A smoking club', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12470

'A smoking club'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 13 February 1793
NPG D12470

'Presentation of the Mahometan credentials - or - the final resource of French atheists', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13018

'Presentation of the Mahometan credentials - or - the final resource of French atheists'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 26 December 1793
NPG D13018

'John Bull ground down', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12527

'John Bull ground down'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 June 1795
NPG D12527

'The Republican attack', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12543

'The Republican attack'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 November 1795
NPG D12543

'Hanging. Drowning', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12545

'Hanging. Drowning'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1795
NPG D12545

'The death of the Great Wolf', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12551

'The death of the Great Wolf'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and engraving, published 17 December 1795
NPG D12551

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