page_title: Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
section_title: Scotland
hierarchical_section_title: Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville / Scotland
caption_attribution_description: English: Statue of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville in one of Edinburgh's grandest streets, named after him.
context_page_description: Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville KT PC FRS 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, a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1817, a Knight of the Thistle in 1821, 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; his eldest son inherited his title.
context_section_description: Appointed a governor of the Bank of Scotland, he was elected chancellor of the University of St Andrews in 1814, and made a Knight of the Thistle in 1821. The crisis of the system came in 1827 on the resignation of Liverpool and the succession of George Canning, who was set on Catholic emancipation. Melville said that, while he personally supported it, he could not approve of a policy which would split the outgoing cabinet. The Whigs in Canning's coalition now persuaded him that a Scottish manager was unnecessary; the home secretary could do all the work with a native adviser or two.
caption: Statue in Melville Street, Edinburgh
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