Herbert Osbaldeston Duncan (1862–1945) was an English racing bicyclist, journalist, and pioneer of the British automobile industry. Duncan became interested in cycling during his time at Taplow College, and in 1878 he joined the Belgrave Bicycle Club determined to make a career in the sport. He became a well-known cycling journalist and later founded the Motor Review.

Duncan was recruited by H. J. Lawson

Harry John Lawson

Henry John Lawson, also known as Harry Lawson, was a British bicycle designer, motor industry pioneer, and fraudster. As part of his attempt to create and control a British motor industry Lawson formed and floated The Daimler Motor Company Limited in London in 1896. It later began manufacture in...

 to become commercial manager of the British Motor Syndicate (BMS), an early automobile manufacturer. In that role he organised the first ever British motor exhibition in 1896, at the Imperial Institute in South Kensington

South Kensington

South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....

, London. After the BMS's failure in 1897 Duncan moved to France, then the leading manufacturer of automobiles in Europe, and took over the management of de Dion-Bouton

De Dion-Bouton

De Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer and railcar manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1932. The company was founded by the Marquis Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton and his brother-in-law Charles Trépardoux....

from 1898 until 1916. He subsequently returned to London, where he became the company's British Empire representative. Duncan published his memoirs in 1926 under the title The World on Wheels. He died in France in 1945.