Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville

The Viscount Melville
Oil painting of Robert Dundas, seated in an armchair
President of the Board of Control
In office
1807–1809
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Portland
Preceded byThomas Grenville
Succeeded byThe Lord Harrowby
In office
1809–1812
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterHon. Spencer Perceval
Preceded byThe Lord Harrowby
Succeeded byThe Earl of Buckinghamshire
Chief Secretary for Ireland
In office
1809–1809
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Portland
Preceded byHon. Sir Arthur Wellesley
Succeeded byHon. William Wellesley-Pole
First Lord of the Admiralty
In office
1812–1827
MonarchsGeorge III
George IV
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Liverpool
Preceded byCharles Philip Yorke
Succeeded byThe Duke of Clarence
(Lord High Admiral)
In office
1828–1830
MonarchGeorge IV
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Wellington
Preceded byThe Duke of Clarence
(Lord High Admiral)
Succeeded bySir James Graham, Bt
Personal details
Born(1771-03-14)14 March 1771
Edinburgh, Scotland, Kingdom of Great Britain
Died10 June 1851(1851-06-10) (aged 80)
Melville Castle, Midlothian
Spouse
(m. 1796; died 1841)
Children6, including Henry, Richard, and Robert
Parent(s)Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
Elizabeth Rannie
Alma materUniversity of Göttingen
University of Edinburgh
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
The Dundas Vault in old Lasswade Kirkyard, containing the first five Viscounts Melville
The simple monument to Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, Dundas vault, Old Lasswade Kirkyard

Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, KT, PC, FRS (14 March 1771 – 10 June 1851) was a British statesman, the son of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount. Dundas was the Member of Parliament for Hastings in 1794, Rye in 1796 and Midlothian in 1801. He was also Keeper of the Signet for Scotland from 1800. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1807,[citation needed] a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1817,[citation needed] a Knight of the Thistle in 1821,[citation needed] and was Chancellor of the University of St Andrews from 1814. Melville filled various political offices and was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1812 to 1827 and from 1828 to 1830.