# W. Butler Duncan

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

## Early life

Duncan was born in [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh) on 17 March 1830,[1] a son of Sarah ([née](/source/N%C3%A9e) Butler) Duncan (1806–1888) and Alexander Duncan (1805–1889) of Parkhill [Arbroath](/source/Arbroath), [Scotland](/source/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](/source/Ireland)); Alexander Lauderdale Duncan of Knossington Grange, Leicestershire, England (who married Louisa Elizabeth Hunt); and Sally Duncan (who married [Sir Robert Hay, 8th Baronet](/source/Sir_Robert_Hay,_8th_Baronet) of Smithfield and Haystoun).[2] His father came to America as a young man and graduated from [Yale University](/source/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](/source/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](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) in 1882. he served on the [USS *Yankee*](/source/USS_Yankee_(1892)) in the [Spanish–American War](/source/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War).[5]

Duncan was educated in Edinburgh and at [Brown University](/source/Brown_University).[3]

## Career

After returning to [New York City](/source/New_York_City), he became a banker and from 1851 until 1875, he was a partner in the banking house of [Duncan, Sherman & Company](/source/Duncan,_Sherman_%26_Company),[3] the American representatives of [George Peabody and Company](/source/George_Peabody_and_Company).[6] Banker [J.P. Morgan](/source/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](/source/Mobile_and_Ohio_Railroad). When the railroad was acquired by the [Southern Railroad Company](/source/Southern_Railway_(U.S.)) 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](/source/Atlantic_Telegraph_Company) and the U.S. Guarantee Company. He also served as vice-president of [Butler Hospital](/source/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](/source/National_Academy_of_Design), the [Metropolitan Museum of Art](/source/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art), and of the [American Museum of Natural History](/source/American_Museum_of_Natural_History).[3]

## Personal life

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

- [Jessie Percy Butler Duncan](/source/Jessie_Phipps) (1855–1934), who married William Wilton Phipps of [London](/source/London); she received a damehood and was known as **Dame Jessie Phipps**.
- Alexander Butler Duncan (1858–1920), who married Eloise (née Stevenson) Kernochan (1872–1948), the widow of James Lorillard Kernochan and daughter of [Vernon King Stevenson](/source/Vernon_K._Stevenson), in 1907.
- [Mary Butler Duncan](/source/Mary_Butler_Duncan_Dana) (1861–1922), who married [Paul Dana](/source/Paul_Dana_(journalist)), son of [Charles Anderson Dana](/source/Charles_Anderson_Dana).[10]

From 1858 to 1896, the Duncan family maintained a residence on [Grymes Hill, Staten Island](/source/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](/source/Prince_of_Wales) in 1860 (before he became King [Edward VII](/source/Edward_VII)), and [Prince Arthur](/source/Prince_Arthur,_Duke_of_Connaught_and_Strathearn), [Duke of Connaught](/source/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"](https://sites.rootsweb.com/~dobson/ri/riprovid.htm). Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. Whyte, Donald (ed.) (2009 [1972]). [*A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the U.S.A., Volume 1*](https://books.google.com/books?id=p29l5Xe6TOEC&pg=PA102). Genealogical Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 978-0806348179.

1. Society, Rhode Island Historical (1911). [*Proceedings of the Rhode Island Historical Society*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JGwMAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA43). p. 43. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. ["Duncan Is Buried at Sea by Navy"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/04/02/119443131.pdf). *The New York Times*. 2 April 1933. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. ["W. Butler Duncan Dead in 71st Year"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/03/31/99218179.pdf). *The New York Times*. 31 March 1933. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. ["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."](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1877/02/11/80366203.pdf). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 11 February 1877. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. Carosso, Vincent P. (1987). [*The Morgans: Private International Bankers, 1854-1913*](https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0674587294). Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. ["W. BUTLER DUNCAN 82 TO-DAY; Vigorous as a Man of 50, and Still Active in Business."](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/03/17/100581108.pdf). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 17 March 1912. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. ["MRS. W. BUTLER DUNCAN DEAD; Was Once One of the Best-Known Hostesses in New York Society."](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/12/12/101424668.pdf). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 12 December 1905. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. ["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."](https://www.nytimes.com/1930/04/08/archives/paul-dana-dies-exeditor-of-sun-succeeded-his-father-charles-a-dana.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 8 April 1930. Retrieved 5 October 2017.

1. Hine, Charles Gilbert (1914). [*History and Legend of Howard Avenue and the Serpentine Road, Grymes Hill, Staten Island*](https://archive.org/details/historylegendofh00hin/page/64). p. 64. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

1. ["DUKE ARRIVES TO-DAY NOT HIS FIRST VISIT; Connaught Was Here in 1868 as Prince Arthur, and Was Guest of W. Butler Duncan."](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/01/22/104889277.pdf). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 22 January 1912. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. ["W. Butler Duncan, Old New Yorker, Dead at 82"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1596341/william_butler_duncan_obituary/). *The New York Sun*. 21 June 1912. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

1. ["William Butler Duncan Papers"](http://library.mysticseaport.org/manuscripts/coll/coll215.cfm). [Mystic Seaport](/source/Mystic_Seaport). 20 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

1. ["Wm. Butler Duncan Dies in 82d Year"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/06/21/104898392.pdf). *The New York Times*. 21 June 1912. Retrieved 28 August 2019.

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