DUNDAS, Hon. Lawrence (1766-1839), of Aske, nr. Richmond, Yorks.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820-1832, ed. D.R. Fisher, 2009
Available from Cambridge University Press

Constituency

Dates

1790 - 1802
1802 - 1807
13 July 1808 - 16 Sept. 1811
14 Oct. 1811 - 14 June 1820

Family and Education

b. 10 Apr. 1766, 1st s. of Thomas Dundas†, 1st Bar. Dundas, and Lady Charlotte Fitzwilliam, da. of William Fitzwilliam†, 1st Earl Fitzwilliam; bro. of Hon. George Heneage Lawrence Dundas* and Sir Robert Lawrence Dundas*. educ. Harrow 1775-80; Trinity Coll. Camb. 1784. m. 21 Apr. 1794, Harriot, da. of Gen. John Hale of Plantation, Tocketts, Yorks., 4s. 3da. suc. fa. as 2nd Bar. Dundas 14 June 1820; cr. earl of Zetland 2 July 1838. d. 19 Feb. 1839.

Offices Held

Capt. Yorks. (N. Riding) militia 1789, lt.-col. 1797, ret. 1803; col. Cleveland vols. 1803; col. commdt. 3 N. Riding militia 1808.

Ld. mayor, York 1811, 1821, 1831; ld. lt. and v.-adm. Orkney and Shetland 1831-d.

Biography

Dundas stood again for York in 1820 on the interest of his uncle Lord Fitzwilliam and the corporation, despite the fact that his father’s failing health raised the possibility that he would be removed from the contest before it was over. In the event, his father rallied and he was returned at the head of the poll, with another Whig, after pledging to resist any ‘unnecessary infringements of the liberties of the people’, but declaring that he saw no reason to amend the ‘vigorous and excellent’ constitution. At a subsequent dinner, he looked forward to the new reign and remarked that it must be ‘gratifying’ to George IV to find that ‘the principles which had placed his family on the throne were now as triumphant as they were when his ancestors called on the people to defend their claims, in opposition to those of the pretending family’.1 He continued to act with the Whig opposition to Lord Liverpool’s ministry during his brief final stint in the Commons, but is not known to have spoken in debate. It is unclear whether he or Charles Dundas was the ‘C.L. Dundas’ who voted in the minority on the civil list, 3 May 1820. He certainly divided against the appointment of an additional Scottish baron of exchequer, 15 May, and inquiry into military expenditure, 16 May. He was granted three weeks’ leave, 9 June 1820, and was removed from the Commons five days later when he succeeded to his father’s peerage.

He remained a stalwart Whig and was rewarded with promotion in the peerage in the coronation honours of 1838. He died in February 1839 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Thomas Dundas*.

Ref Volumes: 1820-1832

Author: David R. Fisher

Notes

  • 1. Yorks. Gazette, 11 Mar.; The Times, 11, 14, 17 Mar. 1820.