• Introduction
• Scotland Office
• Past Secretaries
• Dover House
• - The Site
• - The Building
• - Sir Matthew Featherstonehaugh
    and others 1756-1788
• - Frederick, Duke of York 1788-1792
• - The Melbourne family 1793-1830
• - The Dover Family 1830-1885
• - The Scottish Office 1885-1999
• - The Scotland Office 1999-Present

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The House was built by Sir Matthew Featherstonehaugh and used as his private residence. It is a little known fact that Sir Matthew's son had a liaison with the lady later to be known as Emma, Lady Hamilton. Alas, however, it cannot be said that she was the first famous foot to tread the stairs since before she came on the scene the House was sold to become the French Ambassador's Residence until 1778 when France made a European conflict out of the War of Independence. The Annual Register of the time records that, "this morning (20 March 1778) at six o'clock, his Excellency the French Ambassador set out from his house at Whitehall, with all his retinue, on his return home, pursuant to orders from his court".

From 1779 to 1787 the house was occupied by Lord Amherst who was then officiating Commander in Chief of the Army. He was born in 1717, and in 1758 was given command of the British Expedition which conquered Canada. General Wolfe was one of his subordinates.