About John Holt Duncan
Lived 1820 – 1896 (aged 75). John Holt Duncan was a lawyer and judge.
John Holt Duncan (July 7, 1820 – May 27, 1896) was one a founder of Beta Theta Pi, a prominent college fraternity founded at Miami University in 1839 and was its first president. He made a career as a lawyer and judge in Houston and Bexar County, Texas.
Early life Duncan was born in Cynthiana, Kentucky to John Hicks Duncan and Pauline Randolph Holt. While there, he was one of eight founders of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and served as its first president. He became Chief Justice of Bexar County, Texas from 1857 to 1862. He lost a leg as a result of a battle wound on September 20, 1862, at the First Battle of Newtonia. They nursed him back to health and, then, helped get him back to the Confederates, some 200 miles south through enemy territory.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Holt Duncan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Holt Duncan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Holt Duncan?
Co-founder of Beta Theta Pi fraternity
When was John Holt Duncan born?
John Holt Duncan was born on 7 July 1820 in Cynthiana.
When did John Holt Duncan die?
John Holt Duncan died on 27 May 1896 in Austin.
What was John Holt Duncan's occupation?
John Holt Duncan was a lawyer and judge.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Holt Duncan. https://biography.guide/john-holt-duncan/
MLA: "John Holt Duncan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-holt-duncan/.
Chicago: "John Holt Duncan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-holt-duncan/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:01 UTC