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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 In 1781 he repealed the Disarming Act to allow Highlanders to wear kilts and tartans again; lobbied for the restoration of forfeited Jacobite estates to their rightful owners;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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'Substitutes for bread; - or - right honorables, saving the loaves, and dividing the fishes', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12552

'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

'Promis'd horrors of the French invasion, - or - forcible reasons for negotiating a regicide peace', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12579

'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 Budget or John Bull Frightned [Frightened] out of his wits, by Isaac Cruikshank, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D47470

The Budget or John Bull Frightned [Frightened] out of his wits

by Isaac Cruikshank, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 20 November 1796
NPG D47470

'The wine duty; - or - the triumph of Bacchus & Silenus; with John Bulls remonstrance', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12567

'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 - NPG D12583

'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 - NPG D12588

'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

'The giant factotem amusing himself', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12593

'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 - NPG D12592

'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 - NPG D12603

'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 - NPG D12614

'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

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D15304

'End of the Irish invasion; - or - the destruction of the French armada'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
etching and aquatint, published 20 January 1797
NPG D15304

'Search-night; - or - state-watchmen mistaking honest-men for conspirators', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12633

'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 - NPG D12648

'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 - NPG D12654

'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 - NPG D13086

'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

'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13096

'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

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