Philip Bury Duncan
Encyclopedia
Philip Bury Duncan was keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
, Oxford University.
, Hampshire, where his father was rector.
He was educated at Winchester College
(where he afterwards founded the Duncan Prizes), and at New College
, Oxford, of which he became a fellow in 1792.
He graduated B.A. 1794, M.A. 1798.
Among the school and college friends with whom he continued intimate were Archbishop William Howley
, Bishop Richard Mant
, and Sidney Smith
.
He was called to the bar in 1796, and for a few years attended the home and the western circuits.
From 1801 until his death, he lived much at Bath, and promoted many local scientific and philanthropic schemes.
He was elected president of the Bath United Hospital in 1841.
In 1826, he was made keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
, in succession to his elder brother, John Shute Duncan, author of Hints to the Bearers of Walking Sticks and Umbrella, anonymous, 3rd edition 1809; Botano Theology, 1825; and Analogies of Organised Beings, 1831.
Philip Duncan increased the Ashmolean zoological collections, and himself gave many donations.
He also presented to the university with casts of antique statues and various models.
Duncan advocated the claims of physical science and mathematics to a prominent place in Oxford studies.
He was instrumental in establishing at Oxford, as also at Bath, a savings bank and a society for the suppression of mendacity.
He resigned his keepership in 1855, and was then given the honorary degree of D.C.L.
Duncan died on 12 November 1863, at Westfield Lodge, his home, near Bath, aged 91.
He was unmarried.
He was a man of simple habits and refined tastes.
Archbishop Howley said of him and his brother:
Among Duncan's other publications were:
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
, Oxford University.
Life
He was born in 1772 at South WarnboroughSouth Warnborough
South Warnborough is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. In the 2001 census, the population was 542.South Warnborough is approximately south of the village of Odiham and north of the town of Alton...
, Hampshire, where his father was rector.
He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
(where he afterwards founded the Duncan Prizes), and at New College
New College
-United Kingdom:* North East Worcestershire College Redditch and Bromsgrove* New College Durham, County Durham* New College, Edinburgh, Edinburgh* New College London, St John's Wood, London* New College Nottingham, Nottingham...
, Oxford, of which he became a fellow in 1792.
He graduated B.A. 1794, M.A. 1798.
Among the school and college friends with whom he continued intimate were Archbishop William Howley
William Howley
William Howley was a clergyman in the Church of England. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1828 to 1848.-Early Life, education, and interests:...
, Bishop Richard Mant
Richard Mant
-Life:He was born at Southampton and educated at Winchester College and at Trinity College, Oxford.He was elected fellow of Oriel in 1798, and afterwards took orders, holding a curacy at Southampton in 1802...
, and Sidney Smith
Sidney Smith
Sidney Smith may refer to:*Sir William Sidney Smith , British admiral, always known as Sir Sidney Smith*Sidney Smith , lawyer and politician in Upper Canada*Sidney Irving Smith , American zoologist...
.
He was called to the bar in 1796, and for a few years attended the home and the western circuits.
From 1801 until his death, he lived much at Bath, and promoted many local scientific and philanthropic schemes.
He was elected president of the Bath United Hospital in 1841.
In 1826, he was made keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
, in succession to his elder brother, John Shute Duncan, author of Hints to the Bearers of Walking Sticks and Umbrella, anonymous, 3rd edition 1809; Botano Theology, 1825; and Analogies of Organised Beings, 1831.
Philip Duncan increased the Ashmolean zoological collections, and himself gave many donations.
He also presented to the university with casts of antique statues and various models.
Duncan advocated the claims of physical science and mathematics to a prominent place in Oxford studies.
He was instrumental in establishing at Oxford, as also at Bath, a savings bank and a society for the suppression of mendacity.
He resigned his keepership in 1855, and was then given the honorary degree of D.C.L.
Duncan died on 12 November 1863, at Westfield Lodge, his home, near Bath, aged 91.
He was unmarried.
He was a man of simple habits and refined tastes.
Archbishop Howley said of him and his brother:
Works
He had published in 1836 A Catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum, octavo, and in 1845 had printed at considerable cost a 'Catalogue of the manuscripts bequeathed by Ashmole to the University of Oxford' (edited by W. H. Black).Among Duncan's other publications were:
- An Essay on Sculpture [1830?], octavo.
- Reliquiæ Romanæ (on Roman antiquities in England and Wales), Oxford, 1836, octavo.
- Essays on Conversation and Quackery, 1836, duodecimo.
- Literary Conglomerate, Oxford, 1839, octavo.
- Essays and Miscellanea, Oxford, 1840, octavo.
- Motives of Wars, London, 1844, octavo.