Admiral Adam Duncan

Sturdy of stock, born of the land, a son of the soil of the Mearns, the lustre and glory of his work on the sea is a gem in the crown of his native town Dundee. He was the second son of Alexander Duncan of Lundie, an estate on the confines of Perth and Angus, on the highway from Dundee to Coupar Angus, and now the property of the Duchess of Buckinghamshire. The old "Castle" of Lundie still exists as a better class cottar house, with lintels bearing the date 1689.   At the  south-west corner is part of an older building,  now covered with ivy.   The name of "Castle" may have sprung from such an older building, now demolished, of which this corner was a part. The family for many generations possessed the estate, and its members have been distinguished for vigorous understanding, integrity of principle and firmness  of mind.   Their  endowments  have  been  remarkable  for years.    Height, proportion, strength and majesty of figure have descended like an heirloom in the family of Lundie. Adam was born in Dundee on 1st July 1731 in the upper flat of a house at the top of the Seagate. It was latterly a hostelry under the name of the Blue Bell. The lower flat of the tenement was the town house of Sir George Stewart of Grandtully, and the Chevalier St George slept one night there on the 6th of January 1761. 

The Admiral's mother was a Haldane of Gleneagles. He received his education in Dundee.  Of all periods which interest the biographer the infancy and childhood of his hero is probably not the least fascinating. The work and achievements of later years are matters of record, but the formation of character, the moulding of genius in the father's home and at the mother's knee are memories which illustrate and explain all later events. The earliest indications of genius, the first glint of sunshine in the rnind, and the gradual development of an active and well-balanced mind is a study which the student of history must ever delight in. From  1763 (he received his first command in  1759) till a year after his marriage to Henrietta, a daughter of Dundas, the second President of the Court of Session, he was without employment. In 1787 he was raised to the rank of Admiral, and successively received promotion in that office. In February 1795 he was appointed Commander- in-Chief in the North Seas, hoisting his flag first on the Prince George and afterwards on the Venerable.   It  is  during this  period  that he  had  the  house  in George  Square, Edinburgh,  while  Mrs  Duncan of Lundie,  his sister-in-law,  lived  in   18 George Street.   He had acquired considerable prize money, which rendered him if not affluent at least independent. He usually lived with his brother at Dundee in Summer, and in the Winter at Edinburgh.

The  tradition  is  that  he  was  initiated  in  Lodge   Canongate   Kilwinning between June and November 1796.   He was introduced by Captain Sewell.    Admiral Duncan is not registered in Grand Lodge Books, and oddly enough, though Captain Sewell was a Warden of the Lodge, there is no Minute of his election or installation. The actual Minute runs as follows:      "10th November 1796.

The Lodge having met this Evening and having been duly constituted the Treasurer reported that since last Meeting Messrs William Laing, James Hoggie, Teller in the Royal Bank, William Reid, Douglas McMurdo Banker in Edinburgh, and George Muir Campbell, Writer, had been entered apprentices and had paid their usual due;.

"The Lodge was visited this evening by the Lodge of St. Stephens and after spending an agreeable evening was closed in due form.

"R, SCOTT MONCRIEFF, Secy.ROBERT MOIR, Mr."

ADDITIONAL MINUTE.

" It was further reported by the Treasurer that since the 24th June last, Doctor Miller, Edinr., James Dick, Writer there, R. Lawson, M. Cuming, Writer there, and R. D. Mclntosh had been duly entered apprentices and that Duncan also duly entered passed and raised and that all had paid their Fees. That Mr John Barclay, Preacher of the Gospel had been also entered apprentice and Member of the Lodge and that his Fees as is usual from his profession had been dispensed with.

"ROBERT MOIR, Mr."

In these days meetings were held very irregularly. Often the Tyler entered the candidates and the proceedings were simply reported to the Lodge at a subsequent stage. Brother Moir was one of those responsible for the election of Burns as the Poet Laureate of the Lodge, and this minute is a witness to the careless way in which the work was done and the records kept. Until modern days, when labour troubles have been accentuated by powerful combinations determined to work their will for their own supposed interest- irrespective of those of the nation at large, no more critical condition in the history of the country has ever occurred than the position in which Admiral Duncan found himself placed in the summer of 1797. 

In the 18th century France was a powerful and intriguing rival to Great Britain in almost every part of the world, and became more hostile, more powerful and more intriguing under the influence of the Revolution and the genius of Napoleon, Spain was more than once drawn into the struggle, Holland towards the end of the century was led captive by the French Republic and joined the coalition against Great Britain. Worst of all, it was then that Great Britain threw away her American colonies by stupendous and culpable folly.   What saved our island home was doggedness and our command of the sea. We were never passive. Our cruisers were at Toulon, Rochefort, or Brest, at Cadiz, Carthagena, or Ferrol, as the case might demand. 

The Batavian Republic lost the Cape of Good Hope, India, Ceylon, and its West Indian colonies. These were the circumstances under which in the face of a strong fleet of the Dutch, then under the French influence, and in defiance of the seasons, Duncan maintained his station and kept up the appearance of blockade off the Dutch coast. 

Ireland, with foreign assistance, was prepared for open rebellion. Scotland and England were dominated by political discontent, and this spirit unfortunately spread to the navy, largely because they had not been treated reasonably. They refused to go to sea without reasonable attention to their petitions to Parliament. When this was promised and to a considerable extent carried out, the ring-leaders unfortunately persuaded the men that the Government did not mean to fulfil its engagements. Luckily the Ministry of that day were firm, and insisted that as a preliminary to any negotiations which they were prepared to enter into nothing but unconditional submission would be consented to The ships escaped one by one from the mutineers. 

The anxiety of the nation was intense. Duncan, deserted as he was by his fleet while in the daily expectation of the enemy coming out, must have been in extreme anxiety, but on 3rd June, when thus forsaken, he gave to the crew of his ship the Venerable one of the finest appeals that has ever been made. With a choke in the throat and unwept tears in his utterance, the towering figure of the revered Admiral appeared on the quarter-deck. "My lads," be said, " I once 'more call you together with a sorrowful heart, from what I have lately seen of the disaffection of the Fleets ; I call it disaffection, for they have no grievances. To be deserted by my Fleet in the face of an enemy is a disgrace which I believe never before happened to a British Admiral, nor could I have supposed it possible. 

My greatest comfort, under God, is that I have been supported by the officers and men of this ship, for which, with a heart overflowing with gratitude, I request you to accept my sincere thanks. I flatter myself much good may result from your example, by bringing these deluded people to a sense of the duty which they owe not only to their King and country, but to themselves. 

The British Navy has ever been the support of that liberty which has been handed down to us by our ancestors, and which I trust we shall maintain to the latest posterity, and that can be done only by unanimity and obedience. The ship's company, and others who have distinguished themselves by their loyalty and good order, deserve to be, and doubtless will be, the favourites or a grateful country. They will also have, from their inward feelings, a comfort which will be lasting, and not like the fleeting and false confidence of those who have swerved from their duty. It has often been my pride to look into the Texel and see a foe which decided on, coming out to meet us. My pride is now humbled indeed! My feelings are not easily to be expressed. Our cup has overflowed and made us wanton. 

The all-wise Providence has given us this check as a warning, and I hope we shall improve by it. On Him then let us trust, where our only security can be found. I find there are many good men among us; for my own part, I have had full confidence of all this ship and once more beg to express my approbation of your conduct. May God, who has thus far conducted you, continue to do so, and may the British Navy, the glory and support of our country, be restored to its wonted splendour, and be not only the bulwark of Britain, but the terror of the world. But this can only be effected by a spirit of adherence to our duty, and obedience; and let us pray that the Almighty God may keep us in the right way of thinking ;'God bless you all !" The crew of the Venerable were so affected by this simple but impressive address, that there was not a dry eye among them. 

Thus Admiral Duncan, by acts of mildness and conciliation, by his personal strength and personality, and by his uniform firmness, when every other British Admiral, and even the Government itself, failed in the attempt, continued to keep his own ship, as well as the crew of the Adamant, free from the contagion of the dangerous evil that then almost universally prevailed. It is a matter of rejoicing that at such a critical time counter winds held off the enemy, remember they were sailing ships in these days. Luckily, when even the Dutch were ready to sail with troops to invade Ireland, the wind was against them continually. If command of the sea had for a moment been lost the result for Britain would have been beyond repair. 

Fortunately for the country the enemy were not aware of what was occurring here. By his trick of bogus signals Duncan contrived to make them think that his patrols were in communication with a very much larger force on this side. The manoeuvre was so singular in its conception, so successful in its execution, and performed at a moment of such extreme national difficulty, that the success of it actually deluded the opposing Admiral De Winter into the belief that he was held by a superior squadron. For the bold idea Duncan is as entitled to his country's gratitude as if he had gained a great victory. 

The 11th October of that year was the memorable occasion of the fight. I do not intend to describe it. Coming from Yarmouth, where Duncan had been revictualling, he heard the Dutch were at sea. He immediately weighed anchor and stood over to the Texel. Dealing as we are with battleships which were entirely sailing ships without any mechanical means of propulsion, the manoeuvre which proved the success of the action was a boldly conceived plan and a stroke of genius. It was the same as Nelson employed at the Battle of the Nile when he went inside the enemy's ships on the unprepared side. Seven miles off a lee shore, the wind blowing straight in-shore, and the Dutch showing a bold front, Duncan took the shore side of the enemy to cut them off from their retreat and to catch them unprepared. It was clear that Duncan realised they might escape into shoal water and he was determined to cut off their retreat. He could not get his fleet up in a compact body so resorted to an irregular order of sailing led by himself. 

The whole action was contrary to the usual fighting instructions and was long and bloody, it was ship to ship and the Scottish Thistle emerged triumphant. It was the policy of bold offence as the best defence. The late Battle of Jutland in these days would have had a different conclusion if Beatty had been supported by Jellicoe in the same manner as he expected, but Jellicoe failed where Duncan succeeded. 

De Winter's ship and nine other prizes were taken possession of by the British; the other ships escaped severely damaged, but De Winter himself was taken prisoner. At the conclusion of the battle, the British fleet was within a few miles of the shore, whence many Dutch citizens witnessed the spectacle of destruction and defeat. When the conflict was over it is a characteristic touch of the great Scottish Admiral that he ordered the crew of his ship to assemble, and before them returned thanks to the God of Battles for the victory He had given them and for the protection afforded in the hour of danger. He received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, a grant of a pension, and lordly honours. I do not refer in detail to his later life, because he retired while approaching seventy years from the anxiety of public to the enjoyment of private life. This he adorned as eminently by his virtues as he had done his public station by his energy and talents. 

He died of apoplexy at Cornhill at the ripe age of seventy-three in 1804, after three years' relief from his command and while on a journey northwards from London. In the words of a late writer, it would perhaps be difficult to find in modern history another man in whom, with so much meekness, modesty and unaffected dignity of mind, were united so much genuine spirit, so much of the skill and fire of a professional genius, such active wisdom, such alacrity and such ability for great achievements without a single thought of his personal success, except so far as they might contribute to the good of the Country. An able sailor and commander, his career gave him only one great opportunity, but that he used to such purpose that he is reckoned among the best of British Admirals, and an Angus man and Scotsman forbye. 

Not volatile like the Irish nor supercilious and self-conscious like the English, not righteous like the Welsh, he was a reliable, straight talking, dependable, plain, quiet, Scot. His character gained him the respect and esteem of his officers, his unassuming manners, his modesty and the meekness with which he exhibited his acknowledged ability, his sound sense and his prudent propriety which marked his conversation and his work were a mark of the esteem in which he was held. In the controversies between Keppel and Palliser he kept a level head and cautiously avoided extremes. His own exploits, dangers and difficulties were never the theme of his talk. He was not a man to blow his own trumpet. 

He did not dabble in Parliamentary politics like Rodney and Vernon, nor did he sully his name by domestic frailty like Nelson. His hospitality was kind and courteous but temperate, never indulging to excess himself in wine. His example was followed by his guests. He was fond of a rubber of whist. In fine, although Lord Duncan was not in the limelight as an eminent public character he was greatly respected as an amiable and worthy private gentleman, not only a great but a good man. In silent commemoration, I give you the toast of the name-father of this Chapter, Adam Duncan, the Scots Admiral, and may the lustre of his memory never fade.

This article was submitted by Bro Scott Petrie JD.