Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811), Statesman
Sitter associated with 80 portraits
Henry Dundas was an important ally of Prime Minister William Pitt and a leading power-broker in Scotland. In 1784, he helped to pass Pitt's India Act, removing political power from the East India Company. As Home Secretary between 1791 and 1794, Melville delayed the abolition of slavery by amending Wilberforce's bill to make abolition 'gradual'. He was appointed Secretary of War in 1794 and organised the successful Egyptian campaign of 1801. His career came to an end in 1804, when he was impeached for financial mismanagement. He was narrowly acquitted but never held another ministerial position.
by Karl Anton Hickel
oil on canvas, 1793-1795
On display at Palace of Westminster, London
NPG 745
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
replica by Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, circa 1810
NPG 746
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, circa 1725-1750
NPG D15390
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 Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
coloured etching, 1782
NPG D16521
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
by John Raphael Smith, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1782)
NPG D19829
'Razor's levée, or ye heads of a new Whig ad...........n on a broad bottom'
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 21 April 1783
NPG D12233
by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth d'Achery
hand-coloured etching, published 21 January 1783
NPG D12317
'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
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 March 1787
NPG D12359
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12362
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12363
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 21 May 1787
NPG D12994
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 10 May 1787
NPG D13060
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
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 May 1788
NPG D12377
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 16 May 1788
NPG D12381
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 20 May 1788
NPG D12383
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 4 June 1788
NPG D13065
'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
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; Robert Dundas of Arniston
by John Kay
etching and aquatint, 1790
NPG D15649
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; Robert Dundas of Arniston
by John Kay
etching and aquatint, 1790
NPG D16855
'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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 23 May 1792
NPG D12455
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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1792
NPG D13012
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; Sir James Stirling
by John Kay
etching, 1792
NPG D16491
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
hand-coloured etching, published 26 December 1793
NPG D13018
'Faithful service rewarded' (Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; Alexander Carlyle; Henry Grieve)
by John Kay
etching, 1793
NPG D16964
'God save the King, - in a bumper. or - an evening scene, three times a week at Wimbleton'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 27 May 1795
NPG D12525
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 June 1795
NPG D12527
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 November 1795
NPG D12543
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1795
NPG D12545
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and engraving, published 17 December 1795
NPG D12551
'Substitutes for bread; - or - right honorables, saving the loaves, and dividing the fishes'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 24 December 1795
NPG D12552
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
by John Kay
etching, 1795
NPG D16970
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
by John Kay
etching, 1795
NPG D16969
'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 October 1796
NPG D12579
'The wine duty; - or - the triumph of Bacchus & Silenus; with John Bulls remonstrance'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 20 April 1796
NPG D12567
'Opening of the budget; - or - John Bull giving his breeches to save his bacon'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 17 November 1796
NPG D12583
'Begging no robbery; - ie - voluntary contribution; - or - John Bull escaping a forced loan'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 10 December 1796
NPG D12588
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 12 April 1796
NPG D13022
'The giant factotem amusing himself'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 21 January 1797
NPG D12593
'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D12592
'Midas, transmuting all, into paper'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 March 1797
NPG D12603
'Parliamentary-reform, - or - opposition-rats, leaving the house they had undermined'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 28 May 1797
NPG D12614
'Search-night; - or - state-watchmen mistaking honest-men for conspirators'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 20 March 1798
NPG D12633
'Meeting of unfortunate citoyens'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 12 May 1798
NPG D12648
'Pigs meat; - or - the swine flogg'd out of the farm yard'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 22 June 1798
NPG D12654
'Consequences of a successful French invasion, No 1, plate 1st'
by and published by James Gillray
hand-coloured etching, published 1 March 1798
NPG D13086
William Pitt; Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
by John Kay
etching, 1798
NPG D16449
'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 15 April 1799
NPG D13096
'Integrity retiring from office!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 February 1801
NPG D12756
storming Heaven; - with, the gods alarmed for their everlasting-abodes'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 1 May 1804
NPG D13106
by James Sayers, published by Hannah Humphrey
etching and aquatint, published 26 June 1805
NPG D12264
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 July 1805
NPG D12847
'Bruin in his boat, - or - the manager in distress'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 20 June 1806
NPG D12869
Politics, Government and Diplomacy
Groups
Mince-pie administration
Regency Tories
The Raj and the Indian sub-continent
Places
Egypt
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