Richard Saunders Dundas

Who was Richard Saunders Dundas?

Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, KCB was a Royal Navy officer. As a captain, he took part in the capture of the Bogue Forts in January 1841, during the First Opium War. He was appointed to the command of the Fleet in the Baltic Sea, in succession to Sir Charles Napier, in February 1855 and led the naval support during the latter stages of the Crimean War, enforcing a strict blockade and carrying out the bombardment of Sveaborg in August 1855. He was appointed First Naval Lord in the First Palmerston ministry in November 1857 and then, after stepping down to be Second Naval Lord during the Second Derby ministry, he stepped up again to become First Naval Lord in the Second Palmerston Ministry in June 1859 remaining in office until his death. The Prime-Minister described Dundas as "a most distinguished officer".