His father was William Dallas of North Newton (1719/20 – 2 October 1785), by his second wife, Davidona Haliburton (married 16 April 1754 at Old St. Paul's, Edinburgh).
During the Napoleonic Wars he joined the Shropshire Corps of Yeomanry, Captain of the Troop, 15 January 1804, promotion granted by Lord Berwick.
[2] Dallas married, on 9 January 1801, at Edinburgh, Janet, only surviving child of George Cockburn Haldane (see Clan Haldane) 18th of Gleneagles (baptised 15 June 1729; marriage certificate 9 May 1766; died 2 March 1799) by his first wife, Bethia, daughter of Thomas Dundas of Fingask And Carronhall, M.P.
Brigadier-General Charles Dallas was the last East India Company Governor of Saint Helena, a position he held from 1828–1834.
Dallas died on 26 April 1855, at Trefusis House in Exmouth 'in his 88th year', having survived his wife Janet and his three youngest sons.