Family of 18th century Tory politician Henry Dundas claim plaque added to his statue ‘inaccurate’

On Feb 28, 2023

Family of 18th century Tory politician Henry Dundas claim plaque added to his statue after BLM protests explaining his links to slavery are ‘inaccurate and misleading’

The monument plaque claims Dundas was ‘instrumental’ in deferring abolition
Bobby Dundas, his seven-time great-grandson allegedly made the application

Published: 14:09, 28 February 2023 | Updated: 14:17, 28 February 2023

The family of the 18th century Tory politician Henry Dundas are urging councillors to remove a plaque which explains his links to slavery.

Planning officials are recommending that the Melville Monument’s plaque is removed amid claims that it is historically inaccurate and misleading about the ‘contentious figure’.

Edinburgh‘s plaque – which was added following Black Lives Matter protests in 2021 – explains Dundas’ role in delaying the abolition of slavery in the 1800s.

Dundas was Home Secretary in 1792 when William Wilberforce was campaigning to abolish slavery.

The wording of the plaque was agreed to by Scotland’s first black professor Sir Geoff Palmer and states that Dundas was ‘instrumental’ in deferring abolition with ‘more than half a million enslaved Africans crossing the Atlantic’ as a result.

In June of 2021, activists left signs at the monument saying ‘Bring down Dundas’, with some, including Sir Geoff Palmer, calling for the contentious plaque to be added

His critics cite a letter he sent which concludes: ‘I have not time to write more. The time is near five and I must go to oppose the proposals on for abolition of the slave trade.’

But some dispute this version of events, claiming that Dundas pursued the gradual abolition of slavery as a way of ensuring the legislation.

Bobby Dundas, the Tory politician’s seven-time great-grandson, is understood to be behind the planning application for removing the plaque.

In 2020, Bobby argued that as the bill had already been rejected by the House of Commons, slavery would not have been ended at all without Dundas’ intervention.

He said Dundas was ‘pragmatic’ and realised the only way to pass the bill and ban slavery was to add the word ‘gradually’.

The Viscount said: ‘Henry Dundas was an abolitionist. He was for the abolition of the slave trade. That has been written about by countless people. But you have to understand in the current climate, what was UK politics and the British Empire.

‘There was one failed attempt to get it through Parliament and the realistic and pragmatic approach that Dundas took was the only way – which many historians have written about – to make sure that the vision and final goal was achieved.’

Edinburgh’s plaque – which was added following Black Lives Matter protests in 2021 – explains Dundas’ role in delaying the abolition of slavery in the 1800s

Dundas was Home Secretary in 1792 when William Wilberforce was campaigning to abolish slavery

Bobby is listed as the sole shareholder of the Committee On The Naval Monument To The Memory of The Late Lord Viscount Melville Ltd, which submitted the application.

The group claimed the plaque was ‘inappropriate and does not provide a factual description of Henry Dundas history’.

Planning officials said: ‘The proposals have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building and its setting and will not adversely impact on its special architectural and historic interest.’

The statue of Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville on top of a 150ft column, known as the Melville Monument, stands in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh

In June of 2021, activists left signs at the monument saying ‘Bring down Dundas’, with some, including Sir Geoff Palmer, calling for the contentious plaque to be added.

Council chiefs approved its installation, with the planning application attracting more than 2,200 comments from members of the public.

The plaque states: ‘This represents Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742 – 1811). He was the Scottish Lord Advocate and an MP for Edinburgh and Midlothian, and the First Lord of the Admiralty.

‘Dundas was a contentious figure, provoking controversies that resonate to this day.

Bobby Dundas is listed as the sole shareholder of the Committee On The Naval Monument To The Memory of The Late Lord Viscount Melville Ltd, which submitted the application

‘While Home Secretary in 1792 and first Secretary of State for War in 1796 he was instrumental in deferring the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade.

‘Slave trading by British ships was not abolished until 1807.

‘As a result of this delay, more than half a million enslaved Africans crossed the Atlantic.

‘Dundas also curbed democratic dissent in Scotland.

‘Dundas both defended and expanded the British empire, imposing colonial rule on indigenous peoples.

‘He was impeached in the United Kingdom for misappropriation of public money and although acquitted, he never held public office again. Despite this, the monument before you to Henry Dundas was funded by voluntary contribution from officers, petty officers, seamen and marines and erected in 1821, with the statue placed on top in 1827.

‘In 2020 this was dedicated to the memory of the more than half a million Africans whose enslavement was a consequence of Henry Dundas’s actions.’

HENRY DUNDAS: LAWYER, POLITICIAN, AND FRUSTRATOR OF ABOLITION

Henry Dundas (1742 – 1811) was a Conservative politician, Scottish Advocate and the first Secretary of State for War – some historians claim that he delayed the abolition of slavery in 1792.

During his time as Home Secretary Dundas is said to have proposed that slavery be abolished in ‘three stages’ over a decade.

The Scottish advocate gained the nickname of ‘The Uncrowned King of Scotland’ and ‘The Great Tyrant’ which he lived up to when he was caught misusing public money in 1806 and impeached.

Atop the Melville Monument in St Andrew Square stands the imposing figure of Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, also known as ‘King Harry the Ninth’, the ‘Great Tyrant’ and the ‘Uncrowned King of Scotland’.

Dundas, a trained lawyer, was a highly successful politician, rising from MP for Midlothian in 1774 to Home Secretary – a position he used to frustrate efforts to end slavery until The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act finally became law in March 1807.

In an article for History Workshop, historian Melanie J Newton, Associate Professor of History at the University of Toronto, writes: ‘As Minister for War and Colonies (1794-1801), Dundas prioritised seizing France’s Caribbean slaveholding empire, especially the profitable colony of Saint Domingue, ”with the view of enlarging our national wealth and security”.

‘Between 1793 and 1798, across the Caribbean, 40,000 British troops, most of them sent there by Dundas, died or were incapacitated in a bloody struggle to expand British slavery.’

Historians have also attributed much of the lack of organisation and muddled planning for war with France to Dundas, who was the effective Minister for War at the outbreak of the Wars of the French Revolution.

He was later impeached for the misuse of public funds in 1806 and never held office again – despite being found not guilty.

But Dundas was a skilled politician during the era of Georgian politics and an important confidante of the king.

He also sought to use his influence to further the recognition of Catholics in Ireland.

The plaque at his monument notes how it was paid for not through government funds, but ‘by the voluntary contributions of the officers, petty officers, seamen and marines’.

Source: Edinburgh History World Heritage