1764, the second year after the commencement of his medical studies in Edinburgh. In the welfare of this society he ever afterwards took a warm interest nor did he hesitate to declare, that he considered it an essential part of the medical school of Edinburgh. In the year 1768-9, having completed his studies, he went a voyage to China, in the capacity of surgeon to the honourable East India company's ship Asia, under the command of captain, afterwards Sir Robert Preston. So much to the satisfaction and advantage of the ship's company did he discharge his professional duties, that when the vessel returned to England on the termination of the voyage, the captain offered him the sum of 500 guineas to go out with him a second time; but this offer, however complimentary, he thought it expedient to decline, for the purpose of pursuing a different and more congenial tenor of life. In the October, therefore, of the same year (1769), he received the diploma of doctor of medicine from the university of St Andrews, and in the month of May following, was admitted a licentiate of the royal college of physicians in Edinburgh. Dr Duncan immediately sought to distinguish himself in his profession, and in 1770 came forward as a candidate for the professorship of medicine in the university of St Andrews, that chair having become vacated by the death of Dr Simpson. On this occasion he produced flattering testimonials from all the members of the medical faculty of the university of Edinburgh, and from other eminent members of the profession; but his application proved unsuccessful, the rival candidate being duly elected. In the four sessions succeeding that of 1769-70, he was annually re-elected one of the presidents of the royal medical society, and during this period exerted himself in completing the
arrangements for the erection of the medical hall, now occupied by the society. About this time he became attached to, and married a lady with whom he enjoyed an uninterrupted union of upwards of fifty-seven years, and by whom he had twelve children. She was a Miss Elizabeth Knox, the daughter of Mr John Knox, surgeon in the service of the East India company, who, it may be added, was the eldest son of the Rev. William Knox, minister of Dairsie, in the county of Fife, and great-grand-nephew to the illustrious reformer.
On the death of Dr John Gregory, professor of the theory of medicine in the university of Edinburgh, which occurred in February, 1773, Dr Drummond was appointed to that chair, but being absent from the country, Dr Duncan was chosen to supply the temporary vacancy. He, accordingly, during the sessions 1774-5 and 1775-6, delivered lectures on the theory of medicine; in addition to which he revived the judicious plan adopted by Dr Rutherford, of illustrating the select cases of indigent patients labouring under chronic complaints, by clinical lectures. Dr Drummond still failing to attend to his duties, the magistrates and town council, on the 12th June, 1776, declared the chair to be again vacant, and on the 19th of the same month elected Dr James Gregory, the son of the late professor, to the professorship, the duties of which had been for two years discharged by Dr Duncan. The life of every man is more or less chequered by disappointment, and assuredly this could not be otherwise than keenly felt by Dr Duncan, who, in his concluding clinical address, after reviewing the records of the hospital, and alluding to the successful practice he there adopted, thus proceeds: "I have the satisfaction of being able to retire from this arduous task with ease in my own mind, and I hope not without some additional credit in your estimation. My academical labours have not indeed in other respects been attended with equal advantage. I was not without hopes that by my exertions here, I should still have been able to hold the office of a teacher in the university, and I had no hesitation in offering myself a candidate for the chair lately vacant In that competition I had indeed no powerful connexion, no political interest to aid my cause; but I thought that my chance for success
