He was born in Marionville House in Restalrig, Edinburgh, the son of Robert Dudgeon, a Liverpool-born merchant, and co-founder of the Royal Insurance Company.

[1] He spent many years living in China (1833 to 1849), collecting mineral specimens both here and in Japan, which had only recently opened its borders to Europeans.

[3] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1860 his proposer being Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet.

During his period in office he is noted for reducing the number of public houses and establishing a free circulating library.

[6] He died in Cargen House, near New Abbey in Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway and is buried in Troqueer Churchyard.