Richard Duncan (died February 1819) was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada. He was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. He came to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

state in 1755 with his father, who was a lieutenant in the

44th Regiment of Foot The 44th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment in the British Army, raised in 1741. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot to form the Essex Regiment in 1881. History Early history The regime ...

in the British Army, and joined the army himself in 1758. From 1765-1767 he served as an Ensign with the

55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot The 55th Regiment of Foot was a British Army infantry regiment, raised in 1755. After 1782 it had a county designation added, becoming known as the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 34th (Cum ...

in Ireland. After the end of the Seven Years' War, he was involved in the

fur trade The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the mos ...

in the Great Lakes area. He fought with the King's Royal Regiment of New York during the American Revolution. After John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, he went to Quebec and joined the loyalist troops there. He commanded a company in the KRRNY during the Valley Campaigns in 1779 - 1781, including at the Battle of Klock's Field where he performed with "great gallantry and success". In 1788, he became a judge and a member of the land board in the

Lunenburg District Eastern District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Historical evolution The District, originally k ...

. In 1792, he became lieutenant for the county of

Dundas Dundas may refer to: Places Australia * Dundas, New South Wales * Dundas, Queensland, a locality in the Somerset Region * Dundas, Tasmania * Dundas, Western Australia * Fort Dundas, a settlement in the Northern Territory 1824–1828 * Shire of ...

and a member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada. Duncan spent much of his time looking after his business interests in New York and was dropped from the council for non-attendance in 1805. Duncan was mostly residing in New York after 1809 or 1810 and died at his father's estate near Schenectady, New York in 1819.

External links

Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Richard 1819 deaths Members of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada English emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario United Empire Loyalists People from Berwick-upon-Tweed Upper Canada judges Immigrants to the Province of Quebec (1763–1791) Province of Quebec (1763–1791) judges 1740 births