DUNDAS, the Right Honorable HENRY, Viscount and Baron DIINIRA, brother of the preceding, was b. in 1741, and educated at the university of Edinburgh. He was admitted a member of the Scottish bar in 1763. As a younger son of a pretty numerous family, his circumstances were rather straightened; but his assiduity, his large share of the family talent, and no doubt of the family influence, soon procured him advancement in his profession. He was successively appointed deputy-advocate and solicitor-general. In 1774, he was returned to parliament for the county of Edin burgh, and in the following year was appointed lord advocate for Scotland. Two years after, he was made keeper of the king's signet for Scotland. D.'s career in parliament. was highly successful, though not very creditable to his political consistency. Elected in opposition to ministerial influence, he soon allied himself with the party in power,. and became a strenuous supporter of lord North's administration, being one of the most obstinate defenders of the war with the American colonists. When lord North resigned in 1781, D. continued to hold the office of lord advocate under the Rockingham ministry. On the question of the war with America, D. had been opposed to Pitt; but when the coalition ministry was formed by Fox and lord North, he passed over to the side of his old opponent, and became Pitt's ablest coadjutor. When Pitt returned to the helm of the state in 1784, D. was appointed president of the board of control. In 1784 he intro
duced a bill for restoring the estates in Scotland forfeited on account of the rebellion of 1745. In 1791, he was appointed principal secretary of state for•the home department. He also held a great number of other offices, one of which, the treasurership of the navy, involved him some years after in much trouble. D.'s aptitude for business was undenia ble. Many of the most important public measures originated with, or were directly promoted by him. Among such were the formation of the fencible regiments, the sup plementary militia, the volunteer corps, and the provisional cavalry; in short, the whole of that domestic military force raised the war consequent on the French revolu tion. When Pitt resigned in 1801, D. did the same. In 1802, under the administration of Mr. Addington, he was elevated to the peerage by the titles of viscount Melville and baron Dunira. In 1805, his lordship was accused of "gross malversation and breach of duty," while acting as treasurer of the navy. The trial commenced 29th April, 1806; but in spite of the splendid array of whip talent against him, D. was acquitted on all the charges. After this, however, he took little part in public affairs, spending the most of his time in retirement iu Scotland. He died at Edinburgh, 27th May, 1811.