McManus 168

Full name

George Duncan

Date of birth

11-03-1791 (baptised 13-03-1791)^[1]

Place of birth

Dundee^[1]

Gender

Male

Marital status

Widower^[2]

Name of spouse

Hester Eliza Wheeler^[3]

Children

None

Home address

Hawkhill Place^[4][5]
Dundee

The Vine (c 1836-death)^[6]
Magdalen Green
Dundee

Age at death:

86 years^[7]

Place of death:

Dundee^[7]

Date of death:

06-01-1878^[7]

Buried:

The Howff, Dundee - declared to have been the last person to have been buried in the Howff

Religious affiliation

Church of Scotland^[8]

Political affiliation

Liberal:^[8] Former local and national politician: Former M.P. for Dundee (1841-57):^[9]

Clubs / societies

Dundee Royal Infirmary - A Vice President:^[10] Dundee Royal Lunatic Asylum - A Director for Life:^[10] Dundee Industrial Schools Society - A Vice President:^[10] Dundee Royal Orphan Institution - A Vice President:^[10] Dundee Association for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb - A Vice President:^[10] Freemason - Member of Lodge St David No. 78:^[11] Right Worshipful Master, Lodge Ancient No. 49, 1843-49:^[11]

Public offices

1825 - Merchant Councillor on Dundee Town Council:^[9] 1828 - Elected Councillor of the Guild:^[9] 1833-36 - Dean of Guild:^[8][9] 1838 - J P for Forfarshire:^[8] 1842 - Promoted to First or Senior Baillie:^[8] - noted as having been the first Scottish Bailie to sit in the House of Commons: M.P. for Dundee (1841-1857):^[8]

Related subscribers

Subscriber   56 – Thomas Couper – a named trustee for and beneficiary of George Duncan’s estate.^[12]

Subscriber 128 – David Low – a named trustee for and beneficiary of George Duncan’s estate – also a relative. His mother was named Margaret Duncan.^[12]

Subscriber 222 – Shiell & Small – John Shiell was a named trustee for and beneficiary of George Duncan’s estate although he predeceased him.^[12]

Subscriber 231 – William Small – a beneficiary of George Duncan’s estate.^[12]

Subscriber 240 – Patrick Hunter Thoms – a beneficiary of George Duncan’s estate.^[12]

Occupation

Retired draper, haberdasher and merchant

Employment

Retired. Formerly owner of a business.

Place of work

Dundee and London

Work address

68^[13] / 72^[4] High Street^[13]
Dundee

Career to date:

Born in Dundee, George Duncan's early education took place, firstly at the Grammar School, followed by Dundee Academy,^[14] (the present High School). He was first apprenticed to Archibald Ogilvie, draper.^[14] Post apprenticeship, there followed a period 2/3 years spent in Edinburgh, before returning to Dundee, where he commenced business as a draper and silk mercer on his own account.^[14] It is stated in printed biographies of Duncan that he entered commercial life in Dundee in 1813. He then entered into business as a haberdasher with a Mr Johnston, their firm being known as 'Johnston and Duncan.'^[15] The firm was reported as having been a 'large and lucrative business on the north side of the High Street.'^[14] The partnership is unlikely to have lasted for long as the Dundee Directory for 1818 lists separately a Joseph Johnstone, draper, with premises at 68 High Street and George Duncan, draper, at 61 High Street.^[13] By the 1830s, George Duncan lived at Hawkhill Place. By about the age of 45 years, George Duncan retired from the drapery business in 1836.^[14] He had given up his High Street business c1834. In the Dundee Directory for that year he was described as 'late merchant.'^[5] He was listed as a merchant in the Dundee Directory for 1837-38, by which time he had moved to Magdalen Yard.^[6] He became Director for a number of companies including the Dundee, Perth, and London Shipping Company and the Perthshire Fire Insurance Company. George Duncan also developed an interest in local politics and public affairs. He further became involved in local and national politics for many years. He was elected as one of the Assessors on the Dean of Guild Court in October 1828.^[16] He held this post until 1831.^[16] He was Dean of Guild 1833-36.^[16] On 2 Nov 1836 George Duncan was elected onto Dundee Town Council as Common Councillor for the Second Ward, along with William Boyack, flaxspinner.^[17] He was elected as First, or Senior, Baillie 'ad interim' on 14 April 1841, in place of William Johnston who had resigned.^[18] George Duncan retired from the Council on 2 Nov 1841.^[18] On 3 July 1841, following the retirement of Sir Henry Parnell from the representation of the Burgh, he was returned as Member of Parliament for Dundee. He was returned unopposed at the two succeeding elections of 1847 and 1852 and retired in 1857, having represented Dundee continuously for 16 years. After his retirement from the House of Commons, George Duncan continued to be active in local affairs. Still a prominent figure in Dundee in 1863, he continued to support many local institutions from his home at The Vine and was a noted benefactor, remaining so until his death.