Alexander Duncan

General Alexander Duncan (1780–1859) was a Scottish officer of the East India Company army in Bengal.

Early life

Alexander Duncan was the third son of the physician Andrew Duncan, the elder. The family lived on Bristo Street in Edinburgh's South Side. When his father got the position as Professor of Medicine at Edinburgh University the family moved to Adam Square. Alexander attended the Edinburgh High School a short distance away to the east.

He arrived in India as a cadet in 1795, and served there in the East India Company's forces until 1840, when he returned to the United Kingdom with the rank of Major-General.

Military service in India In 1800 Duncan served in Awadh, and then was in the Doab of the Yamuna, in actions at Sasni and Bijai Garh. He took part in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, being present at the Battle of Laswari, and was promoted to captain in 1805. Fane, in poor health, resigned his command at the beginning of 1839, and Sir John Keane took over. As the campaign got under way, Duncan commanded the reserve division at Firozpur. While most of the Army marched through the Bolan Pass, Duncan's division remained behind with the lines of communication troops and the forces in Sindh.

With the end of the Afghan campaign, Duncan's time in India was over.

Duncan received steps in rank, to Lieutenant-General in 1846, then to full General in 1854. Charles Rogers stated that they had a family of seven sons and five daughters.

The eldest daughter Jane Alexandrina (died 1868) married in 1822 Patrick Dudgeon (1798–1846) of East Craig. Elizabeth Mary (died 1883), second daughter, married in 1830 Windsor Parker. Frances Gertrude, the third daughter, married in 1837 William Erskine Baker.

John Æneas Duncan (died 1857), of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot and 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot, was the fifth son. The youngest son, William Toome Duncan, died in 1837 at age 18.