William Augustine Duncan (12 March 1811 – 1885) was a Scottish journalist, and colonial official.
Life
He was a native of
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland.
It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...
, was born on 12 March 1811 at Bluefield,
Towie
''The Only Way Is Essex'' (often abbreviated as ''TOWIE'' ) is a British reality television series based in Brentwood, Essex, England. It shows "real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way." Originally ...
,
and educated for the Scottish national church. He subsequently embraced Catholicism, was accepted as a student at the Scots Benedictine College,
Ratisbon
Regensburg or is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. It is capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the state in the south of Germany. With more than 150,000 inhabitants, Regensburg is the f ...
, and afterwards at the new college at
Blairs, Kincardineshire, but having offended the authorities there by too outspoken criticism on a sermon, he gave up all thoughts of entering the priesthood.
He started publishing and bookselling business in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
, after five years he was poorer than when he began. He then resorted to teaching and to writing for the press, and was an earnest advocate of the
Reform Bill of 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 (also known as the 1832 Reform Act, Great Reform Act or First Reform Act) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom (indexed as 2 & 3 Will. IV c. 45) that introduced major changes to the electo ...
and of
Lord Stanley
Earl of Derby ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby, under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the en ...
's Irish education scheme.
In July 1838, Duncan went out to
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, becoming a publisher in Sydney. The following year, he was appointed editor of a newly established Roman Catholic journal, the ''
Australasian Chronicle
''The Australasian Chronicle'' was a twice-weekly Catholic newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was published in a broadsheet format. It was also published as ''The Morning Chronicle'', ''The Chronicle'' and ''The Sy ...
'' and used the journal to comment on many matters of controversy. On relinquishing this post in 1843, he issued a paper of his own, ''Duncan's Weekly Register of Politics, Facts, and General Literature''.
In 1846, he was appointed by Sir
George Gipps
Sir George Gipps (23 December 1790 – 28 February 1847) was the Governor of New South Wales, Governor of the British colony of New South Wales for eight years, between 1838 and 1846. His governorship oversaw a tumultuous period where the rights ...
sub-collector of customs at
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...
, and soon after settling at Brisbane he was placed on the
commission of the peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
, made water police magistrate,
guardian of minors, and local immigration commissioner. He was the first president of the
Brisbane School of Arts
Brisbane School of Arts is a heritage-listed school of arts at 166 Ann Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1865 to 1985. It is also known as former Servants Home. It was added to the Queensland ...
.
In January 1859, he succeeded Colonel Gibbes as collector of customs for
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, which appointment he held until 1881. On his return to Sydney, after thirteen years' absence, he declined the chairmanship of the
National Board of Education; but afterwards accepted an ordinary seat at the board, of which he remained a prominent member until its dissolution. Duncan was afterwards on the council of education, and was also chairman of the free public library.
He built up a private library of 3,200 books. They were on a wide range of subjects and reflected his broad interests.
For his services to the colony he was awarded the distinction of
C.M.G. in the
1881 Birthday Honours,
together with a pension from the colonial government. He died in 1885.
Works
Duncan, whose acquaintance with modern languages was unusually extensive, translated from the Spanish of
Pedro Fernandes de Queiros an ''Account of a Memorial presented to his Majesty Philip III., king of Spain, concerning the Population and Discovery of the Fourth Part of the World, Australia the unknown, its great Riches and Fertility, printed anno 1610'', Spanish and English, octavo, Sydney, 1874, to which he appended an introductory notice. He was the author of ''A Plea for the New South Wales Constitution'', octavo, Sydney, 1856, of pamphlets on education, and an unpublished history of the colony until the government of Sir
George Gipps
Sir George Gipps (23 December 1790 – 28 February 1847) was the Governor of New South Wales, Governor of the British colony of New South Wales for eight years, between 1838 and 1846. His governorship oversaw a tumultuous period where the rights ...
.
Notes
References
;Attribution
*; Endnotes:
**Heaton's Australian Dictionary pages 59–60
**Times, August 1885, page 7, col. 6
**Colonial Office List, 1885, page 332
**British Museum Catalogue
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, William Augustine
1811 births
1885 deaths
Scottish journalists
People from Towie, Aberdeenshire
19th-century British journalists
British male journalists
19th-century male writers
19th-century Australian public servants
Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
19th-century Australian historians
Australian book and manuscript collectors