He married Mary French in Dartmouth, on 27 November 1761. He participated in the capture of Havana in 1762 and was moved to HMS Temeraire. During this time he had two children, Isabella (born 23 August 1764) and Arthur French (born 9 February 1769). Duncan already had an older son, Henry, who later served in the Navy from 1781 until being lost off the coast of Newfoundland in 1802 with HMS Scout.
Duncan later returned to Europe to participate in the relief of Gibraltar in 1781.
He was appointed Commissioner at Halifax. He participated in the North British Society. He was appointed to the Nova Scotia Council in 1788, resigning in 1801.[1] Duncan remained at Halifax until 1799, when he returned to England, to be appointed Commissioner at Sheerness, and Deputy-Comptroller of the Navy in January, 1801. He retired from the post in 1806 and resided at Dartmouth until his death on 7 October 1814. His widow Mary survived until 25 September 1823.
Notes
a.^ The parish records of Dundee indicate that the birth date of "24 November 1735" is incorrect
The Parish Records of Dundee, Angus, Scotland
Born 24 January 1739 Baptised 27 January 1739
Henry son of Mr Alexr Duncan, Clerk and Isabel Crawford
In commemoration of Henry Crawford late of Monorgan, grandfather, Henry Crawford of Monorgan, uncle
References
Laughton, J. K. "Journals of Henry Duncan, Captain, Royal Navy 1776–1782." The Naval Miscellany, Vol. I.