View source for Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan

{{Short description|Royal Navy Admiral (1731–1804)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[The Right Honourable]]
| name          = The Viscount Duncan
| birth_date    = {{birth date |1731|7|1|df=yes}}
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1804|8|4|1731|7|1}}
| image         = Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan by John Hoppner.jpg
| caption       = Portrait by [[John Hoppner]], c.1798
| birth_place   = [[Dundee]], Scotland
| death_place   = [[Cornhill-on-Tweed]], England
| nickname      = 
| allegiance    = [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] <br /> [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
| serviceyears  = 1746–1804
| rank          = [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
| branch        = [[Royal Navy]]
| commands      = [[HM Hired Armed Ship Royal Exchange|HMS ''Royal Exchange'']]<br/>[[HMS Valiant (1759)|HMS ''Valiant'']]<br/>[[HMS Suffolk (1765)|HMS ''Suffolk'']]<br/>[[HMS Monarch (1765)|HMS ''Monarch'']]<br/>[[HMS Blenheim (1761)|HMS ''Blenheim'']]<br/>[[HMS Foudroyant (1758)|HMS ''Foudroyant'']]<br/>[[HMS Edgar (1779)|HMS ''Edgar'']]<br/>[[North Sea Fleet (United Kingdom)|North Sea Fleet]]
| unit          = 
| battles       = {{Tree list}}
* [[Seven Years' War]]
** [[Raid on Rochefort]]
** [[Raid on St Malo]]
** [[Capture of Gorée]]
** [[Capture of Belle Île]]
** [[Siege of Havana]]
* [[American Revolutionary War]]
** [[Great Siege of Gibraltar|Siege of Gibraltar]]
** [[Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)|Battle of Cape St. Vincent]]
** [[Battle of Cape Spartel]]
* [[French Revolutionary Wars]]
** [[Battle of Camperdown]]
* [[Napoleonic Wars]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| awards        = [[Naval Gold Medal]]
| relations     = 
}}

[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan''' (1 July 1731{{snd}}4 August 1804) was a [[Royal Navy]] officer best known for defeating the [[Batavian Navy]] at the 1797 [[Battle of Camperdown]]. The victory was one of the most significant naval battles in the [[French Revolutionary Wars]].{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

==Early life==

Adam was the second son of Alexander Duncan, [[Barony of Lundie|Baron of Lundie]], Angus, (d. May 1777) [[Provost (civil)|Provost]] of Dundee, and his wife (and first cousin once removed) Helen, daughter of John Haldane of [[Gleneagles, Scotland|Gleneagles]]. He was born at [[Dundee]]. In 1746, after receiving his education in [[Dundee]], he entered the [[Royal Navy]] on board the [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] ''Trial'', under Captain Robert Haldane, with whom, in {{HMS|Trial}} and afterwards in {{HMS|Shoreham|1744|6}}, he continued until the peace in 1748. In 1749, he was appointed to {{HMS|Centurion|1732|6}}, then commissioned for service in the [[Mediterranean]], by the Hon. [[Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel|Augustus Keppel]] (afterwards Viscount Keppel), with whom he was afterwards in {{HMS|Norwich|1745|6}} on the coast of [[North America]], and was confirmed in the rank of [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]] on 10 January 1755.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

==Seven Years War==
{{Main|Great Britain in the Seven Years War}}
In August 1755, he followed Keppel to {{HMS|Swiftsure|1750|2}}, and in January 1756 to [[HMS Neptune (1683)|''Torbay'']], in which he continued until his promotion to commander's rank on 21 September 1759, and during this time was present in [[Raid on Rochefort|the expedition]] to [[Basque Roads]] in 1757, at the [[Capture of Gorée|reduction of Gorée]] in 1758, and in the blockade of [[Brest, France|Brest]] in 1759, up to within two months of the [[Battle of Quiberon Bay]], from which his promotion just excluded him.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

From October 1759 to April 1760, he had command of ''Royal Exchange'', a hired vessel employed in petty convoy service with a miscellaneous ship's company, consisting to a large extent of boys and foreigners, many of whom (he reported) could not speak English, and all impressed with the idea that as they had been engaged by the merchants from whom the ship was hired they were not subject to naval discipline. It would seem that a misunderstanding with the merchants on this point was the cause of the ship's being put out of commission after a few months.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

As a [[Commander (Royal Navy)|commander]], Duncan had no further service, but on 25 February 1761, he was posted and appointed to {{HMS|Valiant|1759|6}}, fitting for Keppel's [[broad pennant]]. In her he had an important share in the [[Capture of Belle Île|reduction of Belle Île]] in June 1761, and of [[Havana]] in August 1762. He returned to Britain in 1763, and, notwithstanding his repeated request, had no further employment for many years.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

==Peacetime==
During this time, he lived principally at [[Dundee]], and married Henrietta, daughter of [[Robert Dundas, of Arniston, the elder|Robert Dundas]] of Arniston, Lord President of the [[Court of Session]] on 6 June 1777. It would seem that his alliance with this influential family obtained him the employment which he had been vainly seeking during fifteen years. Towards the end of 1778, he was appointed to {{HMS|Suffolk|1765|6}}, from which he was almost immediately moved into {{HMS|Monarch|1765|6}}.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

In January 1779, he sat as a member of the [[court-martial]] of [[Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel|Admiral Keppel]] for the poor performance of the [[Channel Fleet]] during the [[Battle of Ushant (1778)|First Battle of Ushant]].  During the course of the trial Duncan objected several times to stop the prosecutor in irrelevant and in [[leading question]]s, or in perversions of answers. The [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] was therefore desirous that he should not sit on the court-martial of Sir [[Hugh Palliser]] for failure to obey orders during the same battle. The court-martial was set for April.  The day before the assembling of the court the admiralty sent down orders for ''Monarch'' to go to [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]]. Her crew, however, refused to weigh the anchor until they were paid their advance; and as this could not be done in time, ''Monarch'' was still in [[Portsmouth]] harbour when the signal for the court-martial was made;<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|p=159}} cites ''Considerations on the Principles of Naval Discipline'', 8vo, 1781, p. 106n.</ref> so that, sorely against the wishes of the admiralty, Duncan sat on this court-martial also.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=159}}

During the summer of 1779, ''Monarch'' was attached to the [[English Channel|Channel]] fleet under Sir [[Charles Hardy]]; in December was one of the squadrons with which [[George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney|Rodney]] sailed for the [[Great Siege of Gibraltar|relief]] of [[Gibraltar]], and had a prominent share in [[Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)|the action off St. Vincent]] on 16 January 1780. On returning to Britain, Duncan quit ''Monarch'', and had no further command until after the change of Ministry in March 1782, when Keppel became [[First Lord of the Admiralty|first lord of the admiralty]]. He was then appointed to {{HMS|Blenheim|1761|6}} of 90 guns, and commanded her during the year in the Grand Fleet under [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Howe]], at the relief of Gibraltar in October, and the encounter with the allied fleet off [[Cape Spartel]]. He afterwards succeeded Sir [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent|John Jervis]] in command of {{HMS|Foudroyant|1758|2}}, and after the peace commanded {{HMS|Edgar|1779|6}} as guardship at [[Portsmouth]] for three years. He attained flag rank on 24 September 1787, became [[Vice admiral (Royal Navy)|vice admiral]] 1 February 1793, and was promoted to [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|admiral]] 1 June 1795. In February 1795, he was appointed [[Commander-in-Chief, North Sea]], and hoisted his flag on board {{HMS|Venerable|1784|6}}.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|pp=159–160}}

==In action with the Dutch==
{{main|Battle of Camperdown}}
[[File:Admiral Duncan addressing his crew (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Duncan speaks to his crew to persuade them not to join the mutiny]]
[[File:Admiral Adam Duncan by Henri-Pierre Danloux 1798.JPG|thumb|upright|1798 portrait of Duncan by [[Henri-Pierre Danloux]]]]

During the first two years of Duncan's command, the work was limited to enforcing a rigid blockade of the enemy's coast, but in the spring of 1797, it became more important from the knowledge that the Dutch fleet in the [[Texel]] was getting ready for sea.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=160}}

The situation was one of extreme difficulty, for [[Spithead and Nore mutinies|the mutiny]] which had paralysed the fleet at the [[Nore]] broke out also amongst the crews under Duncan, and kept him for some weeks in enforced inactivity. Duncan's personal influence and some happy displays of his vast personal strength held the crew of ''Venerable'' to their duty; but with one other exception, that of {{HMS|Adamant|1780|2}}, the ships refused to quit their anchorage at [[Great Yarmouth|Yarmouth]], leaving ''Venerable'' and ''Adamant'' alone to keep up the pretence of the blockade.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=160}}

Fortunately, the Dutch were not at the time ready for sea; and when they were ready and anxious to sail, with thirty thousand troops, for the invasion of [[Ireland]], a persistent westerly wind detained them in harbour until they judged that the season was too far advanced.<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|p=160}} cites ''Life of Wolfe Tone'', ii. 425–435.</ref> For political purposes, however, the French Revolutionaries who controlled the government in Holland (despite the contrary opinion of their admiral, [[Admiral de Winter|De Winter]]), ordered him to put to sea in the early days of October.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=160}}

Duncan, with the main body of the fleet, was at the time lying at [[Great Yarmouth]] revictualling, the Texel being watched by a small squadron under Captain [[Henry Trollope]] in {{HMS|Russell|1764|6}}, from whom he received early information of the Dutch being at sea. He at once weighed anchor, and with a fair wind approached the Dutch coast, saw that the fleet was not returned to the Texel, and steering towards the south sighted it on the morning of 11 October about seven miles from the shore and nearly halfway between the villages of [[Egmond (municipality)|Egmont]] and [[Camperduin|Camperdown]]. The wind was blowing straight on shore, and though the Dutch forming their line to the north preserved a bold front, it was clear that if the attack was not made promptly they would speedily get into shoal water, where no attack would be possible. Duncan at once realised the necessity of cutting off their retreat by getting between them and the land. At first, he was anxious to bring up his fleet in a compact body, for his numbers were at best equal to those of the Dutch; but seeing the absolute necessity of immediate action, without waiting for the ships astern to come up, without waiting to form line of battle, and with the fleet in very irregular order of sailing, in two groups, led respectively by himself in ''Venerable'' and Vice-admiral [[Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet|Richard Onslow]] in ''Monarch'', he made the signal to pass through the enemy's line and engage to leeward.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=160}}

It was a bold departure from the absolute rule laid down in the ''Fighting Instructions,'' still new, though warranted by the more formal example of [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Howe]] on [[Glorious First of June|1 June 1794]]; and on this occasion, as on the former, it was crowned with complete success. The engagement was long and bloody; for though Duncan, by passing through the enemy's line, had prevented their untimely retreat, he had not advanced further in tactical science, and the battle was fought out on the primitive principles of ship against ship, the advantage remaining with those who were the better trained to the great gun exercise,<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|p=160}} cites Chevalier, ''Histoire de la Marine Française sous la première République'', 329</ref> though the Dutch inflicted great loss on the Royal Navy.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=160}}

It had been proposed to De Winter to make up for the want of skill by firing shell from the lower deck guns, and some experiments had been made during the summer which showed that the idea was feasible.<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|p=160}} cites ''Life of Wolfe Tone'', ii. 427</ref> However, want of familiarity with an arm so new and so dangerous presumably prevented its being acted on in the battle.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=160}}

==Rewards==
[[File:Statue of Adam Duncan, Viscount Duncan, Scottish National Portrait Gallery.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Adam Duncan, Viscount Duncan, Scottish National Portrait Gallery]]
The news of the victory was received in Britain with the warmest enthusiasm. It was the first certain sign that the mutinies of the summer had not destroyed the power and the prestige of the Royal Navy. Duncan was at once (21 October) raised to the peerage as '''Viscount Duncan''', of Camperdown, and '''Baron Duncan''', of Lundie in the Shire of Perth (with which came the lands now known as [[Camperdown, Dundee|Camperdown Park]] in Dundee), and there was a strong feeling that the reward was inadequate. Even as early as 18 October his aunt, Lady Mary Duncan, wrote to [[Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville|Henry Dundas]], at that time secretary of state for war: ''Report says my nephew is only made a Viscount. Myself it is nothing, but the whole nation thinks the least you can do is to give him an English earldom. … Am sure were this properly represented to our good king, who esteems a brave, religious man like himself, would be of my opinion. …''.<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|pp=160–161}} cites Arniston ''Memoirs'', 251.</ref> It was not, however, until 1831, many years after Duncan's death, that his son, then bearing his title, was raised to the dignity of an earl, and his other children to the rank and precedence of the children of an earl.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|pp=160–161}}

Duncan was awarded the [[Naval Gold Medal|Large Naval Gold Medal]] and an annual pension of £3,000, to himself and the next two heirs to his title – this was the biggest pension ever awarded by the [[British government]]. Additionally, he was given the freedom of several cities, including Dundee and [[London]].{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=161}}

==Death==
[[File:Grave of Admiral Duncan, Lundie Kirk.jpg|thumb|Grave of Admiral Duncan, Lundie Kirk]]
Duncan continued in command of the North Sea fleet until 1801, but without any further opportunity of distinction. Three years later, 4 August 1804, he died quite suddenly, aged seventy-three, at the inn at [[Cornhill-on-Tweed|Cornhill]], a village on the border, where he had stopped for the night on his journey to [[Edinburgh]] (ib. 252) and was buried in [[Lundie]] west of Dundee.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=161}}

===Memorial===

There is a memorial to him within [[St Paul's Cathedral]].<ref>"Memorials of St Paul's Cathedral" [[William Sinclair (Archdeacon of London)|Sinclair, W.]] p. 453: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909.</ref>

==Character==
Duncan was of size and strength almost gigantic. He is described as {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m}} in height, and of corresponding breadth. When a young lieutenant walking through the streets of Chatham, his grand figure and handsome face attracted crowds of admirers, and to the last he is spoken of as singularly handsome.<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|p=161}} cites Colburn's ''New Monthly Magazine'', 1836, xlvii. 466.</ref>

[[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelson]] wrote to Duncan's son, [[Henry Duncan (Royal Navy officer, 1786-1835)|Henry]], a fellow Royal Navy officer, on 4 October 1804, including a newspaper with the account of Duncan's death, "There is no man who more sincerely laments the heavy loss you have sustained than myself; but the name of Duncan will never be forgot by Britain, and in particular by its navy, in which service the remembrance of your worthy father will, I am sure, grow up in you. I am sorry not to have a good sloop to give you, but still an opening offers which I think will insure your confirmation as a commander".<ref>{{harvnb|Laughton|1888|p=161}} cites Nelson Despatches vi. 216.</ref>

==Family==

Duncan's uncle was [[Sir William Duncan, 1st Baronet|Sir William Duncan]], physician-extraordinary to [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] and first of the [[Duncan baronets]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DqkTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA176 | page=176 | title=	A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland and Scotland | first1=John | last1=Burke | first2=Sir Bernard  | last2=Burke | edition=2nd | publisher = Scott, Webster, and Geary | year=1841}}</ref> On 6 June 1777 Duncan married Henrietta (1749–1832), daughter of [[Robert Dundas, of Arniston, the elder|Robert Dundas]] of Arniston, Lord President of the [[Court of Session]]. On his death Duncan left a family of four daughters and two sons. His eldest son succeeded to the peerage and later became [[Earl of Camperdown]]; the second son, [[Henry Duncan (Royal Navy officer, 1786-1835)|Henry]], died a captain in the navy and [[Royal Guelphic Order|K.C.H.]] in 1835.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=161}}

His sister Margaret was mother to [[James Haldane Tait]] who served under him several times and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.<ref>{{Cite RNB1823 |wstitle=Tait, James Haldane ||volume=sup |part=1|pages=162–165}}</ref>

Henrietta and her children are buried in [[Canongate Kirk]]yard in [[Edinburgh]] east of the church.

==Heraldry==
The paternal arms of the 1st Viscount were: ''Gules, two cinquefoils in chief and a bugle horn in base argent stringed azure'' ([[Clan Duncan]]).<ref>Naval Chronicle, Volume 4, London, 1801,
edited by James Stanier Clarke, John Jones, Stephen Jones, ''Heraldic Particulars relative to Lord Viscount Duncan'', p.113 [https://books.google.com/books?id=7VEDAAAAYAAJ&dq=viscount+duncan+naval+crown&pg=PA113]</ref> In the centre of his paternal coat the 1st Viscount was granted an [[augmentation of honour]]: ''Pendant by a ribbon argent and azure from a naval crown or a gold medal thereon two figures the emblems of Victory and Britannia; Victory alighting on the prow of an antique vessel, crowning Britannia with a wreath of laurel; and below the word "Camperdown"''

Crest: ''A first rate ship of war, with masts broken, rigging torn and in disorder, floating on the sea, all proper and over, the motto "Disce Pati"'' ("learn to endure").

Supporters: ''On the dexter side an Angel, mantle purpure; on the head a celestial crown; the right hand supporting an anchor proper; in the left a palm branch Or. On the sinister a sailor, habited and armed proper; his left hand supporting a staff, thereon hoisted a flag azure; the Dutch colours, wreathed about the middle of the staff. Motto: "Secundis Dubiisque Rectus"''<ref>Naval Chronicle, Volume 4, London, 1801</ref><ref>[https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/warship-life-at-sea-hms-duncan.288368/page-19 For image of heraldic achievement see]</ref>

==Recognition==
*Several ships have been named [[HMS Duncan|HMS ''Duncan'']], or {{ship||Admiral Duncan|ship}}, or {{ship||Lord Duncan|ship}} after him.
*The Dundee Unit of the [[Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)|Sea Cadets]] is named TS ''Duncan'' after him.
*A statue by Westmacott, erected at the public expense, is in St. Paul's.{{sfn|Laughton|1888|p=161}}
*Duncan Terrace in Islington, London N1 was named after him.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Early London County Courts : a brief account of their history and buildings. |date=2010 |publisher=Anthony Bradbury |isbn=978-0-9566442-0-6 |location=[Place of publication not identified] |pages=61 |oclc=1285558728}}</ref>
*Duncan Street in Leeds town centre is named after him. The pub on this street honours him with its name and many pictures and paintings.
*The Galapagos island, now known as [[Pinzón Island]], was named ''Duncan Island''.
*A statue of Duncan was erected in 1997 in his birthplace, Dundee, on the corner of High Street and Commercial Street.
*Several public houses are named after him, including the [[Admiral Duncan (pub)|Admiral Duncan pub]] in Soho, London,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rothwell |first=David |title=The dictionary of pub names. |publisher=Wordsworth Editions |year=2006 |isbn=1-84022-266-2 |location=Ware, Hertfordshire |pages=11 |oclc=352936023}}</ref> a gay pub that was the scene of a terrorist bombing in 1999.
* namesake of [[Duncan's Cove, Nova Scotia]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
'''Attribution'''
*{{DNB| first=John Knox |last=Laughton |wstitle=Duncan, Adam |volume=16|pages=159–161}} Endnotes:
**Ralfe's ''Naval Biography'', i. 319;
**''Naval Chronicle'', iv. 81;
**Charnock's ''Biographia Navalis'', vi. 422;
**James's ''Naval History of Great Britain'' (edit. 1860), ii. 74;
**Keppel's ''Life of Viscount Keppel''.

==Further reading==
{{Commons category}}
{{EB1911 poster|Duncan, Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount}}
*{{Cite ODNB|first=P. K. |last=Crimmin |title=Duncan, Adam, Viscount Duncan (1731–1804)|orig-year=2004 |date=January 2008 |id=8211}}
*[http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/blfamduncan2.htm Rampant Scotland - Famous Scots - Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Camperdown (1731–1804)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051130234646/http://www.taynet.co.uk/users/mcgon/bglink3.htm Taynet - Admiral Lord Duncan, Hero of Camperdown]
*[http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst313.html Gazetteer for Scotland - Admiral Adam Duncan]
* ''The Naval Chronicle, Volume 4'' 1800, J. Gold, London. (reissued by [[Cambridge University Press]], 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-108-01843-2}})

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{{s-ttl| title=[[Viscount Duncan]]| years=1797–1804}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan Of Camperdown, Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount}}
[[Category:1731 births]]
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[[Category:People educated at the High School of Dundee]]
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[[Category:Royal Navy personnel of the American Revolutionary War]]
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[[Category:Viscounts in the Peerage of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Peers of Great Britain created by George III]]