Henry Duncan
Henry Duncan [1]
a Scotch clergyman, third son of Reverend George Duncan, was educated first at home, then at an academy at Dumfries, and completed his studies successively at the universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, at the last of which he was associated with Henry Brougham, Horner, and Petty (Marquis of Lansdowne). He was licensed to preach in August 1798; presented to the living at Ruthwell in May, and ordained September 19, 1799; was elected moderator of the General Assembly in May, 1839; joined the Free Secession, and signed the deed of demission, May 24, 1843; and died February 19, 1846, aged seventy-one years. He superintended the education of many young gentlemen in the manse, with that of his own family; formed an auxiliary Bible society in Dumfries in 1810; and founded a parish savings bank. Among his numerous publications are, A Pamphlet on the Socinian Controversy (Liverpool, 1791): — three separate Sermons: — six separate Letters on popular passing events: — An Essay on the Nature and Advantages of Parish Banks (1815) The Young South Country: Weaver: — William Douglas (Edinb. 1826, 3 volumes): — Account of the Runic Monument at Ruthwell Manse (1833): — Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons (Edinb. 1835, 4 volumes). He originated and wrote for the Edinburgh Christian Instructor; likewise the Dumfries and Galloway Courier, and edited it for seven years, being the principal proprietor thereof. He also edited, for a time, the Dunfries Journal. See Fasti Eccles. Scoticanae, 1:626, 627.
