W. Butler Duncan

William Butler Duncan (17 March 1830 – 12 June 1912) was a Scottish-American banker and railroad executive.

W. Butler Duncan
President of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York
In office
1902–1906
Preceded byAndrew Carnegie
Succeeded byRobert Frater Munro
Personal details
Born
William Butler Duncan

(1830-03-17)17 March 1830
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died12 June 1912(1912-06-12) (aged 82)
New York City, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Spouse
Jane Percy Sargent
​
​
(m. 1853; died 1905)​
ChildrenJessie Percy Butler
Alexander Butler Duncan
Mary Butler Duncan
William Butler Duncan (adopted)
Alma materBrown University
OccupationBusinessman, financier, philanthropist

Early life

Duncan was born in Edinburgh on 17 March 1830,[1] a son of Sarah (née Butler) Duncan (1806–1888) and Alexander Duncan (1805–1889) of Parkhill Arbroath, Scotland, who married in 1827.

Among his siblings were Jessie Scott Duncan, Samuel Butler Duncan and Mary Cryder Duncan, who all died young; David Duncan (who married Fanny Bloodgood); Adele Granger Duncan (who married Robert Hamilton Stubber of Moyne, Ireland); Alexander Lauderdale Duncan of Knossington Grange, Leicestershire, England (who married Louisa Elizabeth Hunt); and Sally Duncan (who married Sir Robert Hay, 8th Baronet of Smithfield and Haystoun).[2] His father came to America as a young man and graduated from Yale University in 1827.[3]

After his younger brother David died in 1873 and his wife in 1874, Duncan adopted their young son, William Butler Duncan II (1862–1933).[4]

The younger Duncan was a leader in American yacht racing and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1882. he served on the USS Yankee in the Spanish–American War.[5]

Duncan was educated in Edinburgh and at Brown University.[3]

Career

After returning to New York City, he became a banker and from 1851 until 1875, he was a partner in the banking house of Duncan, Sherman & Company,[3] the American representatives of George Peabody and Company.[6] Banker J.P. Morgan apprenticed at the firm before establishing his own firm in New York.[7]

From 1874 until 1888, he served as president of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. When the railroad was acquired by the Southern Railroad Company in 1901, he became chairman of its board of directors,[8] serving until his death in 1912.[3]

Duncan was also a director of the Southern and Atlantic Telegraph Company and the U.S. Guarantee Company. He also served as vice-president of Butler Hospital, which was named in honor of Cyrus Butler, his mother's uncle. He was president of the Butler Exchange Company, a member of the National Academy of Design, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and of the American Museum of Natural History.[3]

Personal life

On 22 November 1853, Duncan married Jane Percy Sargent (1833–1905) in New Orleans. Jane was the daughter of George Washington Sargent and Margaret Isabella Jessie (née Percy) Sargent and the granddaughter of Winthrop Sargent, the Governor of Mississippi Territory and Secretary of Northwest Territory.[9] Together, they lived at 1 Fifth Avenue in New York City and were the parents of:[8]

From 1858 to 1896, the Duncan family maintained a residence on Grymes Hill, Staten Island, in the former home of the neighborhood's namesake, Suzette Grymes.[11]

At his mansion on Fifth Avenue, Duncan entertained the Prince of Wales in 1860 (before he became King Edward VII), and Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught in 1868.[8][12]

His wife died at their home on 11 December 1905.[9] Duncan died in New York City on June 12, 1912.[13][14][15]

References
  1. Dobson, Mary Ann (Duncan) (18 November 2012). "Duncans in Providence Co. RI". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. Whyte, Donald, ed. (2009) [1972]. A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the U.S.A., Volume 1. Genealogical Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 978-0806348179.
  3. Society, Rhode Island Historical (1911). Proceedings of the Rhode Island Historical Society. p. 43. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. "Duncan Is Buried at Sea by Navy" (PDF). The New York Times. 2 April 1933. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  5. "W. Butler Duncan Dead in 71st Year" (PDF). The New York Times. 31 March 1933. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. "Duncan, Sherman & Co.'s Affairs.; Examination of Mr. William Butler Duncan and William Watts Sherman the Mobile and Ohio First Mortgage Coupons Mr. Watts Sherman's Connection with the Bankrupt Firm" (PDF). The New York Times. 11 February 1877. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  7. Carosso, Vincent P. (1987). The Morgans: Private International Bankers, 1854-1913. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  8. "W. BUTLER DUNCAN 82 TO-DAY; Vigorous as a Man of 50, and Still Active in Business" (PDF). The New York Times. 17 March 1912. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  9. "MRS. W. BUTLER DUNCAN DEAD; Was Once One of the Best-Known Hostesses in New York Society" (PDF). The New York Times. 12 December 1905. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  10. "PAUL DANA DIES; EX-EDITOR OF SUN; Succeeded His Father, Charles A. Dana, in 1896 and Headed Paper Until 1903. WAS PARK BOARD MEMBER In World War Served on Commission for Relief In Belgium -- Was Early Motoring Enthusiast. Learned Under Father's Direction. Was Keen Sportsman". The New York Times. 8 April 1930. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  11. Hine, Charles Gilbert (1914). History and Legend of Howard Avenue and the Serpentine Road, Grymes Hill, Staten Island. p. 64. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  12. "DUKE ARRIVES TO-DAY NOT HIS FIRST VISIT; Connaught Was Here in 1868 as Prince Arthur, and Was Guest of W. Butler Duncan" (PDF). The New York Times. 22 January 1912. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  13. "W. Butler Duncan, Old New Yorker, Dead at 82". The New York Sun. 21 June 1912. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  14. "William Butler Duncan Papers". Mystic Seaport. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  15. "Wm. Butler Duncan Dies in 82d Year" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 June 1912. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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