Politician Henry Dundas died - On this day in history

Dundas was a lawyer and politician whose professional career led him into disrepute, ending with him becoming the last ever person to be impeached in the House of Lords.

He became infamous for obstructing moves to bring about an end to the slave trade in the 1790s and whilst acting as Minister for War, was responsible for the aborted Siege of Dunkirk in 1793. He was reported for the misappropriation of public money and in 1806, his impeachment trial began, which ended in an acquittal with a negligence claim laid against him.

Further reading

Henry Dundas: Viscount Melville by J.A. Lovat Fraser