Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Robert Graham
Personal details
Born16 February 1741
Great Britain
Died14 June 1820 (aged 79)
Great Britain
SpouseLady Charlotte FitzWilliam (m. 1764)
Children14
Education
St. Andrews University

Thomas Laurence Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas,

Baron Dundas. He was responsible for commissioning the Charlotte Dundas, the world's "first practical steamboat
".

Biography

Lord Dundas
Marske Hall

Dundas was the only son of

Society of Scottish Antiquaries and Colonel of the North York Militia. He acquired Marske Hall in North Yorkshire in 1762 after the death of Sir William Lowther, 3rd Baronet. He succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet in 1781, inheriting Aske Hall, also in North Yorkshire. Dundas also inherited a slave plantation in Grenada from his father.[1]

Charlotte Dundas

Dundas followed his father in having an interest in

double-hulled paddle boat powered with a steam engine fitted by William Symington. In 1800 Dundas, as Governor of the Forth and Clyde Canal Company, engaged Symington to design a steam tug on the lines of a failed attempt by Captain John Schank for the Bridgewater Canal. At a meeting of the canal company's directors on 5 June 1800 Dundas "produced a model of a boat by Captain Schank to be worked by a steam engine by Mr Symington",[citation needed
] and it was agreed this should be immediately put in hand.

The boat was built to Symington's design. It had successful trials on the

River Carron in June 1801 and further trials towing sloops from the river Forth up the Carron and thence along the Forth and Clyde Canal. The other proprietors of the canal were concerned about wave damage to the canal banks, and the Committee decided that the boat would "by no means answer the purpose".[citation needed
]

Symington had proposals for an improved boat which were presented in the form of a model, shown to Lord Dundas, of the boat which would become famous as the Charlotte Dundas, named in honour of one of his Lordship's daughters. One account states that Lord Dundas had advised Symington to prepare the model and bring it to his Lordship in London, where Symington was introduced to the Duke of Bridgewater who was enthusiastic enough to immediately order eight boats of similar construction for his canal. Unfortunately, the Duke of Bridgewater died a few days before the first sailing, and nothing came of this order.

Lord Dundas and some of his relatives and friends were on board for the first sailing of the boat on the canal in 1803, but despite the success of the Charlotte Dundas fears of erosion of the banks prevailed, and the trials were ended leaving Symington

out-of-pocket
.

Family

Sir Thomas Dundas, 2nd Baronet married Lady Charlotte FitzWilliam, the daughter of

William FitzWilliam, 3rd Earl FitzWilliam
, on 24 May 1764 and they had 14 children:

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2146660919

External links

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorkshire)
1763–1768
With: Sir Ralph Milbanke
 Succeeded by
Preceded by
Member of Parliament for Stirlingshire

1768–1794 		Succeeded by
Robert Graham
Honorary titles
New office Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland
1794–1820 		Vacant
Title next held by
The Lord Dundas
Preceded by Vice Admiral of Orkney and Shetland
1781–1820 		Vacant
Title next held by
James Allan Maconochie
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation
Baron Dundas

1794–1820 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of Great Britain
Preceded by Baronet
(of Kerse)
1781–1820 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Dundas,_1st_Baron_Dundas&oldid=1216929463"