Viscount Melville

Viscount Melville, of Melville in the County of Edinburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1802 for the notable lawyer and politician Henry Dundas. He was made Baron Dunira, in the County of Perth, at the same time, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Dundas, who was the fourth son of Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elder, declined an earldom in 1809. He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount, who was also a noted politician. He assumed for himself the additional surname of Saunders, which was that of his father-in-law. His son, the third Viscount, was a General in the British Army. His nephew, the sixth Viscount, was a diplomat. As of 2007 the titles are held by the latter's grandson, the ninth Viscount, who succeeded his uncle in 1971.

The family seat is Wey House, near Norton Fitzwarren in Somerset.

Viscounts Melville (1802)

*Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811)
*Robert Saunders-Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (1771-1851)
*Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville (1801-1876)
*Robert Dundas, 4th Viscount Melville (1803-1886)
*Robert Dundas, 5th Viscount Melville (1835-1904)
*Charles Saunders Dundas, 6th Viscount Melville (1843-1926)
*Henry Charles Clement Dundas, 7th Viscount Melville (1873-1935)
*Henry Charles Patric Brouncker Dundas, 8th Viscount Melville (1909-1971)
*Robert David Ross Dundas, 9th Viscount Melville (b. 1937)

The Heir Apparent is the present holder's son Hon. Robert Henry Kirkpatrick Dundas (b. 1984)

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]