Charles Duncan
Not to be confused with Charles Gilbert Duncan Sandison.
Charles Gilbert Duncan (b. 1 October 1816, Lerwick, d. 11 November 1884, Lerwick) was the eldest son of Gilbert Duncan (b. 1787), a solicitor in the town, and Elizabeth Ogilvy, daughter of Charles.
Biography
Charles became an apprentice to a writer to the signet in Edinburgh, and eventually began to practise the law in his native town. He became a popular solicitor for ordinary people. In the 1850s he was appointed Procurator Fiscal. After his death Sheriff Charles Rampini referred to his 'acute mind, his singularly lucid judgment, his profound knowledge of law, and the keen interest which he took in all pertaining to the functions of the Procurator Fiscal's office'.
He held the position of Agent for the Union Bank in Lerwick since it began operations there in 1867 and upon death had been the Procurator-Fiscal for 32 years.
Duncan eventually became a town councillor in 1850, spending 3 years as junior Baillie, between 1856 to 1862 and 1865 to 1874 as senior Baillie. In those offices he became a reformer.
He and his supporters introduced a water and drainage system in the town, against opposition from some ratepayers. He set up a competent police force and improved Lerwick's Hillhead with pavements and grass. It is also said by some that it was Duncan's influence that was behind journalist Donald Stephen moving to Shetland in 1872 and founding The Shetland Times.
Duncan was knighted by the King of Belgium and the King of Holland for services rendered to visitors from those countries. He died in Lerwick in November 1884 of asthma.
His father Gilbert and uncle Andrew were also Lerwick Town Councillors.
Political Career
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1850
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1853
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1856
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1859
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1862
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1865
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1868
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1871
External links
| Provosts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Sievwright Snr |
Senior Bailie for Lerwick Town Council 1856-1862 |
Succeeded by Joseph Leask |
| Preceded by Joseph Leask |
Senior Bailie for Lerwick Town Council 1865-1874 |
Succeeded by William Sievwright 
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| [Expand]Leaders of the Lerwick Town Council |
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