Lawrence Dundas, 1st Marquess of Zetland

Lawrence Dundas, 1st Marquess of Zetland, (16 August 1844 – 11 March 1929), known as Lawrence Dundas until 1873 and as The Earl of Zetland from 1873 to 1892, was a British hereditary peer and Conservative statesman. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland between 1889 and 1892.

Early life and education
Lord Zetland was born in London, the son of John Charles Dundas, younger son of Lawrence Dundas, 1st Earl of Zetland (Zetland is an archaic spelling of Shetland). His mother was Margaret Matilda, daughter of James Talbit. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.

Military service
Zetland was commissioned as a Cornet in the Royal Horse Guards in 1866. By 1869 Zetland was a Lieutenant and he retired from the army in 1872.

Political career
In 1872 Zetland was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond, North Yorkshire that same year. However, he sat in the House of Commons for less than a year before succeeding his uncle as third Earl of Zetland. A Lord in Waiting from May to September 1880, Lord Zetland subsequently moved from supporting the Liberals to joining the Conservative Party in 1884. In 1889 he was sent to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant. The same year he was appointed a Knight of the Order of Saint Patrick (KP). In the post he proved both successful and popular, and remained there until the Liberals returned to power in 1892. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1889 and in 1892, on Lord Salisbury's recommendation, he was created Earl of Ronaldshay, in the County of Orkney and Zetland, and Marquess of Zetland.

In the 1890s Lord Zetland became more involved in local politics, becoming an alderman on the North Riding of Yorkshire County Council in 1894 and being elected Mayor of Richmond in 1895 and 1896. In 1900 he was made a Knight of the Thistle. A freemason like his uncle and grandfather, Zetland was the society's provincial Grand Master in the North and East Riding of Yorkshire from 1874 to 1923. He was also an enthusiastic sportsman, and was Master of the Zetland Hunt for thirty-five years.

He owned 68,000 acres, with 11,000 in the North Riding of Yorkshire, 29,000 acres in Orkney and 13,000 acres in Shetland.

Marriage and children
Lord Zetland married Lady Lilian Selina Elizabeth Lumley (1851 - 24 December 1943), daughter of Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough, on 3 August 1871. They had five children:


 * Lady Hilda Mary Dundas (24 November 1872 - 19 May 1957), married Charles Henry FitzRoy, 4th Baron Southampton on 9 July 1892.
 * Thomas Dundas, Lord Dundas (19 January 1874 - 11 February 1874)
 * Lawrence John Lumley Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland (11 June 1876 - 6 February 1961)
 * Lady Maud Frederica Elizabeth Dundas (9 July 1877 - 15 March 1967), married William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 7th Earl Fitzwilliam on 24 June 1896.
 * Lord George Heneage Lawrence Dundas (1 July 1882 - 30 September 1968), married Iris Winifred Hanley on 23 December 1905.

Death
Lord Zetland died in 1929 at the age of 84 at Aske Hall, Yorkshire and was buried there. He was succeeded in the marquessate and other titles by his eldest surviving son Lawrence. The Dowager Marchioness of Zetland died on 24 December 1943.