Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas February 16, 1741 - June 14, 1820, was a powerful figure in Britain, now remembered for commissioning the Charlotte Dundas, the world's "first practical steamboat".

Following education at Eton and St. Andrews University he did the Grand Tour, then became Member of Parliament for Richmond, 1763-1768, then for Stirlingshire, 1768-1794. He married Charlotte Fitzwilliam on Thursday 24 May 1764, and they had 14 children. He was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dundas of Aske in August 1794, and was also; Lord Lieutenant and Vice Admiral of Orkney and Shetland, Councillor of state to the Prince of Wales (later George IV), President of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries and Colonel, North York Militia.

Thomas Dundas followed his father in having an interest in Grangemouth and in the Forth and Clyde Canal, and he would have been aware of the 1789 trials on the canal of Patrick Miller of Dalswinton's double hulled paddle boat powered with a steam engine fitted by William Symington. In 1800 Dundas, as Governor of the Forth and Clyde Canal Company, engaged Symington to design a steam tug on the lines of a failed attempt by Captain John Schank for the Bridgewater Canal. At a meeting of the canal company's directors on the 5th June 1800 Dundas "produced a model of a boat by Captain Schank to be worked by a steam engine by Mr Symington", and it was agreed this should be immediately put in hand.

The boat was built to Symington's design, had successful trials on the river Carron in June 1801 and further trials towing sloops from the river Forth up the Carron and thence along the Forth and Clyde Canal. The other proprietors of the canal were concerned about wave damage to the canal banks, and the Committee decided that the boat would "by no means answer the purpose".

Symington had proposals for an improved boat which were presented in the form of a model, shown to Lord Dundas, of the boat which would become famous as the Charlotte Dundas, named in honour of one of his Lordship's daughters. One account states that Lord Dundas had advised Symington to prepare the model and bring it to his Lordship in London, where Symington was introduced to the Duke of Bridgewater who was enthusiastic enough to immediately order eight boats of similar construction for his canal. Unfortunately the Duke of Bridgewater died a few days before the first sailing, and nothing came of this order.

Lord Dundas and some of his relatives and friends were on board for the first sailing of the boat on the canal in 1803, but despite the success of the Charlotte Dundas fears of erosion of the banks prevailed, and the trials were ended leaving Symington out of pocket.

See also:

• steamboat
• paddle steamer

External links

• William Symington
• William Symington, inventor of steam navigation
• Individual Record Dundas Thomas