Thomas Dundas joined the Royal Navy on 23 May 1778, when he ws entered as captain’s servant on hms Suffolk. A year later, he joined hms Alfred and was soon made midshipman. Over the next few years, he served in hms Fame, Formidable and Edgar before passing for lieutenant in November 1788. However, he did not obtain his lieutenant’s commission until war with France broke out in 1793. Two years later, he was promoted commander and then captain in 1798. In 1799, when commanding the West Indiaman La Prompte, he captured the Spanish ship Urca Cargadora. He was appointed captain of hms Naiad in 1804 and remained in command of her until 1808. In 1825, he was promoted rear admiral and then vice admiral in 1837. He was created KCB in 1831 and died on 29 March 1841.

In August 1805, during the campaign before Trafalgar, the Naiad spotted the Combined Fleet, was chased by them but escaped to bring the news to Admiral Cornwallis. Shortly before Trafalgar, Nelson put Dundas and the Naiad under Blackwood’s (hms Euryalus) command as part of the frigate squadron that became the ‘eyes of the fleet’. The Naiad was one of the frigates watching Cadiz for any sign of the Combined Fleet making a move. On 19 October, the Combined Fleet set sail and the Naiad repeated the signals from the Euryalus to that effect. For the next two days the frigates shadowed the Combined Fleet, reporting their moves back to Nelson. On the day of Trafalgar, the Naiad took station to the windward of the weather column but took no direct part in the action except to repeat signals. She helped in rescuing men from disabled ships and took the dismasted hms Belleisle in tow when that ship became unmanageable.

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