David Duncan (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
David Duncan was a British merchant and shipper and a Liberal
politician who briefly represented the seat of Barrow-in-Furness.
Duncan was born at Alyth
, Perthshire
, the fourth son of James Duncan, a manufacturer and merchant, and was educated at the High School of Dundee
. He and his elder brother James went to South America where they became very successful traders.
In 1851 he went into partnership with Alexander Balfour
and Stephen Williamson
in the shipping business of Balfour Williamson
. He and Wiliamson were based in Valparaiso
while Balfour looked after the Liverpool end of the business. After the partnership ran into personal difficulties, Duncan left Balfour Williamson in 1863, and formed his own company, Duncan Fox & Co., which became a great commercial rival of Balfour Williamson in Chile, with interests in mining as well as shipping. He returned to England and lived at Gayton Hall in Cheshire
where he was a J. P.
and was also a director of the Royal Insurance Company.
In 1885 he was elected as a Member of Parliament
for Barrow-in-Furness, but was unseated on petition. He was then elected to represent Liverpool Exchange
which he held until his death later that year.
In 1856 Duncan married Catherine Williamson of Anstruther, sister of Stephen Williamson
. Their eldest son James
was born in Valparaiso. James was also briefly MP for Barrow-in-Furness. His grandson by another son Sir James Duncan
was also an MP and became a baronet.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who briefly represented the seat of Barrow-in-Furness.
Duncan was born at Alyth
Alyth
Alyth is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated under the Hill of Alyth five miles northeast of Blairgowrie. The village has a population of 2,301...
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, the fourth son of James Duncan, a manufacturer and merchant, and was educated at the High School of Dundee
High School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
. He and his elder brother James went to South America where they became very successful traders.
In 1851 he went into partnership with Alexander Balfour
Alexander Balfour
Alexander Balfour was a Scottish merchant and founder of the Liverpool shipping company Balfour Williamson.Balfour was born in Leven, Fife, the son of Henry Balfour, a foundry owner...
and Stephen Williamson
Stephen Williamson
Stephen Williamson was a founder of the Liverpool shipping company Balfour Williamson & Co. and a Scottish Liberal Party politician.He was born in Cellardyke, Fife in 1827, the son of Archibald Williamson, a shipowner...
in the shipping business of Balfour Williamson
Balfour Williamson
Balfour Williamson & Co was a shipping company based in Liverpool, England, and later an export confirming house and freight forwarding company. It is now a subsidiary of Lonmin ....
. He and Wiliamson were based in Valparaiso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
while Balfour looked after the Liverpool end of the business. After the partnership ran into personal difficulties, Duncan left Balfour Williamson in 1863, and formed his own company, Duncan Fox & Co., which became a great commercial rival of Balfour Williamson in Chile, with interests in mining as well as shipping. He returned to England and lived at Gayton Hall in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
where he was a J. P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and was also a director of the Royal Insurance Company.
In 1885 he was elected as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Barrow-in-Furness, but was unseated on petition. He was then elected to represent Liverpool Exchange
Liverpool Exchange (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool Exchange was a borough constituency within the city of Liverpool in England, centred around Liverpool Exchange railway station. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.The...
which he held until his death later that year.
In 1856 Duncan married Catherine Williamson of Anstruther, sister of Stephen Williamson
Stephen Williamson
Stephen Williamson was a founder of the Liverpool shipping company Balfour Williamson & Co. and a Scottish Liberal Party politician.He was born in Cellardyke, Fife in 1827, the son of Archibald Williamson, a shipowner...
. Their eldest son James
James Duncan (politician)
James Archibald Duncan was a British lawyer a Liberal politicianwho briefly represented the seat of Barrow-in-Furness.Duncan was born in Valparaiso, the son of the shipper David Duncan and his wife Catherine Williamson....
was born in Valparaiso. James was also briefly MP for Barrow-in-Furness. His grandson by another son Sir James Duncan
Sir James Duncan, 1st Baronet
Captain Sir James Alexander Lawson Duncan, 1st Baronet was a British Conservative and National Liberal politician....
was also an MP and became a baronet.