He was born in 1772 at South Warnborough, Hampshire, where his father was rector. He was educated at Winchester College (where he afterwards founded the Duncan Prizes), and at New College, Oxford, of which he became a fellow in 1792. He graduated B.A. 1794, M.A. 1798. Among the school and college friends with whom he continued intimate were Archbishop William Howley, Bishop Richard Mant, and Sydney Smith. [1]
He was called to the bar in 1796, and for a few years attended the home and the western circuits. From 1801 until his death, he lived much at Bath, and promoted many local scientific and philanthropic schemes. He was elected president of the Bath United Hospital in 1841. [1]
In 1826, he was made keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, in succession to his elder brother, John Shute Duncan, author of Hints to the Bearers of Walking Sticks and Umbrella, anonymous, 3rd edition 1809; Botano Theology, 1825; and Analogies of Organised Beings, 1831. Philip Duncan increased the Ashmolean zoological collections, and himself gave many donations. He also presented to the university with casts of antique statues and various models. Duncan advocated the claims of physical science and mathematics to a prominent place in Oxford studies. He was instrumental in establishing at Oxford, as also at Bath, a savings bank and a society for the suppression of mendacity. He resigned his keepership in 1855, and was then given the honorary degree of D.C.L. [1]
Duncan died on 12 November 1863, at Westfield Lodge, his home, near Bath, aged 91. He was unmarried.[1]
Character assessmentedit
He was a man of simple habits and refined tastes. Archbishop Howley said of him and his brother:
I question whether any two men with the same means have ever done the same amount of good.[1]
Worksedit
He had published in 1836 A Catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum, octavo, and in 1845 had printed at considerable cost a Catalogue of the manuscripts bequeathed by Ashmole to the University of Oxford (edited by W. H. Black).[1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wroth, Warwick William (1888). "Duncan, Philip Bury". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 16. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 172. ; Endnotes:
Gentlemen's Magazine 1864, 3rd ser. xvi. 122–6
Catalogue of Oxf. Grad.
British Museum Catalogue
January 01, 1970
philip, bury, duncan, 1772, 1863, keeper, ashmolean, museum, university, oxford, born1772died1863nationalitybritish, contents, life, character, assessment, works, notes, referenceslife, edithe, born, 1772, south, warnborough, hampshire, where, father, rector, . Philip Bury Duncan 1772 1863 was keeper of the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford 1 Philip Bury DuncanBorn1772Died1863NationalityBritish Contents 1 Life 2 Character assessment 3 Works 4 Notes 5 ReferencesLife editHe was born in 1772 at South Warnborough Hampshire where his father was rector He was educated at Winchester College where he afterwards founded the Duncan Prizes and at New College Oxford of which he became a fellow in 1792 He graduated B A 1794 M A 1798 Among the school and college friends with whom he continued intimate were Archbishop William Howley Bishop Richard Mant and Sydney Smith 1 He was called to the bar in 1796 and for a few years attended the home and the western circuits From 1801 until his death he lived much at Bath and promoted many local scientific and philanthropic schemes He was elected president of the Bath United Hospital in 1841 1 In 1826 he was made keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in succession to his elder brother John Shute Duncan author of Hints to the Bearers of Walking Sticks and Umbrella anonymous 3rd edition 1809 Botano Theology 1825 and Analogies of Organised Beings 1831 Philip Duncan increased the Ashmolean zoological collections and himself gave many donations He also presented to the university with casts of antique statues and various models Duncan advocated the claims of physical science and mathematics to a prominent place in Oxford studies He was instrumental in establishing at Oxford as also at Bath a savings bank and a society for the suppression of mendacity He resigned his keepership in 1855 and was then given the honorary degree of D C L 1 Duncan died on 12 November 1863 at Westfield Lodge his home near Bath aged 91 He was unmarried 1 Character assessment editHe was a man of simple habits and refined tastes Archbishop Howley said of him and his brother I question whether any two men with the same means have ever done the same amount of good 1 Works editHe had published in 1836 A Catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum octavo and in 1845 had printed at considerable cost a Catalogue of the manuscripts bequeathed by Ashmole to the University of Oxford edited by W H Black 1 Among Duncan s other publications were 1 An Essay on Sculpture 1830 octavo Reliquiae Romanae on Roman antiquities in England and Wales Oxford 1836 octavo Essays on Conversation and Quackery 1836 duodecimo Literary Conglomerate Oxford 1839 octavo Essays and Miscellanea Oxford 1840 octavo Motives of Wars London 1844 octavo Notes edit a b c d e f g h Wroth 1888 p 172 References editAttribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Wroth Warwick William 1888 Duncan Philip Bury In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 16 London Smith Elder amp Co p 172 Endnotes Gentlemen s Magazine 1864 3rd ser xvi 122 6 Catalogue of Oxf Grad British Museum Catalogue Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Philip Bury Duncan amp oldid 991218351, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
