Charles Dundas

Honorable Charles Lawrence Dundas was born on 18 July 1771 in St. George Hanover Square, London. He was the third son of Thomas Dundas and Lady Charlotte Fitzwilliam. His paternal grandfather was Sir Lawrence Dundas, 1st Baronet, and his maternal grandfather was William Fitzwilliam, 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam. In 1781, his father inherited the baronetcy, and in 1794, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dundas. Dundas had several notable siblings, including Lawrence Dundas, 1st Earl of Zetland (1766–1839), Rear Admiral Hon. George Heneage Lawrence Dundas (1778–1834), and Sir Robert Lawrence Dundas (1780–1844).

For his education, Dundas attended Harrow School and later matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1792 and a Master of Arts in 1795. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1789 and was called to the bar in 1795.

In 1794, Dundas began his political career as private secretary to the Duke of Portland, following a recommendation from his uncle, Earl Fitzwilliam. His first parliamentary seat was for Malton, a position he secured in 1798 after the resignation of William Baldwin, with the support of his family’s political influence. Throughout his career, Dundas closely followed his family's political affiliations. He was aligned with the Whig party and voted against the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1799 and 1800, reflecting his political stance.

Dundas resigned from his seat for Malton in 1805 to allow Henry Grattan, a prominent Irish Whig orator, to contest the seat. In 1806, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire, succeeding his younger brother George Dundas, who had resumed naval duties.

His personal life included marriage to Lady Caroline Beauclerk, daughter of Aubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St Albans. They had five children: two sons and three daughters. Their children were Ann Dundas (born 22 January 1800), who remained unmarried; Frederick Dundas (14 June 1802–26 October 1872), who served as MP for Orkney and Shetland and married Grace Gore; William Laurence Dundas (born 1 October 1803; died June 1805 in childhood); Catherine Elizabeth (born 17 January 1805), who married Lt. Gen. Freeman Murray; and Charlotte Amelia (born 17 April 1808), who married Ralph Thomas Fawcett.

Charles Dundas served as a Member of Parliament until his death on 25 January 1810 at the age of 40. He died while in office due to illness.