David Dundas (British Army officer)

Sir David Dundas
Royal Chelsea Hospital, England
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain  United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1755–1820
Rank	General
Commands held	Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1809–11) Northern District (1807–09)
Battles/wars	Seven Years' War French Revolutionary Wars

The son of Robert Dundas, a Scottish merchant, and Margaret Dundas (née Watson), Dundas was enrolled at the

On 31 August 1783 Dundas left regimental service and became an advocate of officer training in the British Army, writing many manuals on the subject, the first being Principles of Military Movements published in 1788.^[6] He chose to play down the light infantry tactics that generals such as Lord Cornwallis or Willam Howe favoured during the American War of Independence. Instead Dundas, after witnessing Prussian army manoeuvres in Silesia in 1784, favoured the army model that Frederick the Great had created. Its use of drilled battalions of line infantry marching in formation was a stark contrast to the light brigades that fought in small independent groups and with cover during the American War of Independence.^[1]

Later career

On 23 June 1789 he became Adjutant-General in Ireland where he was able deploy his ideas for military training.

Hood forced Dundas to resign on 10 March 1794; Dundas transferred to serve in the Flanders Campaign under the Duke of York.^[1] Appointed commander of the 2nd Cavalry brigade after the death of John Mansel at Beaumont on 26 April 1794, he distinguished himself at Willems on 10 May, and was attached to Otto's column at Tourcoing later that month. Dundas replaced Sir Robert Laurie at the head of his brigade during the retreat to Antwerp. In December, while commanding the British Right under Harcourt, he led the attack at Tuil^[14] on 30 December and directed the rearguard action at Geldermalsen on 5 January 1795.^[15][16] He was made commander of the British forces (mainly cavalry) left behind at Bremen in April 1795 and given the local rank of brevet lieutenant general while remaining in Europe on 2 May 1795.^[17]

On 26 December 1795 Dundas became Colonel of the

Dundas commanded the 3rd Division under the Duke of York in the Helder Campaign 1799,^[1] seeing action at Den Helder on 27 August, Zype on 10 September, Bergen on 19 September, Alkmaar on 2 October and Castricum on 6 October.^[21] On 15 February 1800 he was given the honorary appointment of Governor of Landguard Fort.^[22]

He was made Colonel of

Dundas was Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 3 April 1804^[29] until his death.^[30] Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 4 January 1815,^[31] he died at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 18 February 1820 and is buried in the grounds.^[1]

Assessment

In the army Dundas was nicknamed "Old Pivot" for his Prussian-style drill books.^[32] Burne describes him as "A level-headed officer",^[33] but "cautious",^[34] while Bunbury writes "He...was an aged man...a brave, careful, and well-skilled soldier...Dundas was a tall, spare man, crabbed and austere, dry in his looks and demeanour...there were peculiarities in his habits and style which excited some ridicule amongst young officers. But though it appeared a little out of fashion, there was 'much care and valour in that Scotchman'".^[35] Thoumine writes that "Dundas was perhaps not as graceful nor as polished as some of his contemporaries, but he was as sound as oak and utterly reliable".^[36]

Family

In 1807 he married Charlotte De Lancey, daughter of Brigadier General Oliver De Lancey (1718-1785); they had no children.^[1]

References