Philip Dundas

Philip Dundas (c.1763–1807) was a Scottish British East India Company naval officer, president of the East India Marine Board, and superintendent of Bombay. He returned to Britain and became a Member of Parliament and returned to the Far East to become governor of Prince of Wales Island, now known as Penang.

Philip Dundas was the fourth son of fourth son of Robert Dundas of Arniston, the younger, and his second wife Grace, daughter of William Grant, Lord Prestongrange.

Dundas joined the East India Company Navy and rose to become captain of Melville Castle from 1786 until 1792. Through the influence of his politically well connected uncle, Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, he was promoted from captain to president of the Marine Board and superintendent of Bombay from 1792 until 1801, during which time "he had £10,000 a year and accumulated £70,000 or £80,000, with which he returned to England".

On returning to Britain Dundas stood as a member of Parliament for English constituency of Gatton and having won the seat after a contested by-election (during which he was elected with a single vote cast) entered Parliament on 24 January 1803. He would remain in parliament for a little over two years, and although he remained a silent member, like other members of his family he voted in favour of measures that brought Addington administration to an end. In April 1805 he vacated his seat, leaving it at Pitt’s disposal.

Very shortly after leaving Parliament, Dundas embarked on a voyage to the East Indies to take up the governorship of Prince of Wales Island. His uncle the Viscount Melville had long hoped to establish a naval arsenal.

The newly appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, arrived at the newly created Presidency of the British East India Company, between 18 and 24 September 1805, together with his Council and the subordinate officials, including his Deputy Secretary, Stamford Raffles, who would form his new government.

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