Francis Duncan
Encyclopedia
Francis Duncan C.B. was a Royal Artillery
officer, lawyer, historian and a Conservative
politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1888.
Duncan was born in Scotland, the son of John Duncan and his wife Helen. He was educated at University of Aberdeen
(MA. in honours 1855) and entered the Royal Artillery
in 1855. He went to Canada where he was awarded Honorary D.C.L. from King's College, Canada in 1861. In 1864, he became a captain and in 1874 a major, receiving an Honorary LL.D. from University of Aberdeen
in the same year. He was an instructor at the School of Gunnery from 1877 to 1882 becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1881 and receiving an Honorary D.C.L. from University of Durham in 1882. From 1883 to 1885, he was employed with the Egyptian army (3rd Class Osmanleh) and became colonel in 1885. He was author of several works relating to military history.
At the 1885 general election
, Duncan was elected as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Holborn
. He was re-elected in the 1886 general election
but died in post in 1888.
Duncan married Mary K Cogswell from Halifax, Nova Scotia. One of the original Woolwich Ferry
boats was named after him.
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
officer, lawyer, historian and a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1888.
Duncan was born in Scotland, the son of John Duncan and his wife Helen. He was educated at University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
(MA. in honours 1855) and entered the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1855. He went to Canada where he was awarded Honorary D.C.L. from King's College, Canada in 1861. In 1864, he became a captain and in 1874 a major, receiving an Honorary LL.D. from University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in the same year. He was an instructor at the School of Gunnery from 1877 to 1882 becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1881 and receiving an Honorary D.C.L. from University of Durham in 1882. From 1883 to 1885, he was employed with the Egyptian army (3rd Class Osmanleh) and became colonel in 1885. He was author of several works relating to military history.
At the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, Duncan was elected as the 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,...
(MP) for Holborn
Holborn (UK Parliament constituency)
Holborn was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Holborn district of Central London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
. He was re-elected in the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
but died in post in 1888.
Duncan married Mary K Cogswell from Halifax, Nova Scotia. One of the original Woolwich Ferry
Woolwich Ferry
The Woolwich Free Ferry is a boat service across the River Thames, London, UK, which is licensed and financed by London River Services, the maritime arm of Transport for London...
boats was named after him.
Publications
- History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery 1872, John Murray (London)
- The English in Spain or the Story of the War of Succession Between 1834 and 1840
- A Description of the Island of St. Helena: Containing Observations on Its Singular Structure