Clan Dundas

Se dice que la ascendencia de los jefes del Clan Dundas se remonta a Helias, hijo de Utred, hijo de Gospatrick, Príncipe de Northumberland . ^{[ 1 ]} Sin embargo, es durante el reinado de Guillermo el León cuando se encuentra el primer registro fiable de la familia, cuando Serle de Dundas aparece en una escritura de este período. ^{[ 1 ]} Más tarde, en 1296, Serle de Dundas y Robert de Dundas aparecen en los Ragman Rolls jurando lealtad a Eduardo I de Inglaterra . ^{[ 1 ]}

Sir Archibald Dundas era uno de los favoritos de Jacobo III de Escocia y fue enviado por él en varias misiones importantes a Inglaterra . ^{[ 1 ]} El rey tenía la intención de otorgarle un alto rango a Dundas, pero murió antes de poder hacerlo. ^{[ 1 ]} El siguiente rey, Jacobo IV de Escocia , sí lo hizo, otorgándole tierras a Dundas que incluían la isla de Inchgarvie , con el derecho a construir un castillo allí. ^{[ 1 ]}

Las ramas principales del Clan Dundas eran los Dundas de Blair Castle , los Dundas de Arniston , los Dundas de Duddingston y los Dundas de Fingask . ^{[ 1 ]}

El decimoctavo laird fue George Dundas, un presbiteriano convencido que luchó en las Guerras del Pacto . ^{[ 1 ]} Fue miembro del comité para el juicio de James Graham, primer marqués de Montrose . ^{[ 1 ]} A Dundas se le dio el mando de Linlithgowshire y se le encargó su defensa contra Oliver Cromwell . ^{[ 1 ]}

The Dundases of Arniston were the senior cadets of the clan and they acquired distinction through high legal and political office.^[1] Sir James Dundas, 1st of Arniston was Governor of Berwick under James VI of Scotland. His son was Sir James Dundas, Lord Arniston who in 1641 was knighted by King Charles I.^[1] He also sat as a member of the Scottish parliament representing Mid-Lothian.^[1] Dundas was a loyal subject to the King but vehemently disapproved of the King's interference with the Church of Scotland.^[1] He was particularly opposed to the re-introduction of bishops.^[1] He was one of the first to sign the National Covenant.^[1] Upon the Restoration of 1660 Dundas accepted an offer to have a seat on the bench of the supreme court despite not being a professional lawyer.^[1] He took the post as Lord Arniston in 1662.^[1] However he did not last long because he did not sign the declaration of 1663 stating that both the National Covenant and the Solemn League Covenant were unlawful.^[1]

William Dundas of Kincavel was the ancestor of the Dundas of Blair Castle branch of the clan.^[1] He was a Jacobite who was imprisoned for his part in the Jacobite rising of 1715.^[1]

Sir David Dundas was born in Edinburgh in 1735 and went on to become commander-in-chief of the British Army in 1809.^[1]

The twenty-eighth chief of Clan Dundas was Admiral Sir Charles Dundas of Dundas who was an Aide-de-camp to King George V and the principal naval transport officer during World War I.^[1]

His son, Adam Duncan Dundas of Dundas (1903–1951), succeeded as 29th Chief in 1924. He was commissioned into 71st (Forth) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery of the Territorial Army in 1938 and served as a battery commander during World War II, OC of the 228th H.A.A. Battery, 175th H.A.A. Regiment in Gibraltar, ending the war with the rank of major.^[3][4]