Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Duck, Nicholas

by James McMullen Rigg

DUCK, NICHOLAS (1570–1628), lawyer, eldest son of Richard Duck by Joanna, his wife, was born at Heavitree, Devonshire, in 1570, and entered Exeter College, Oxford, on 12 July 1584. He left the university without a degree, and entered Lincoln's Inn, where he was called to the bar, and of which he was one of the governors from 1615 until his death. He was also reader at Lincoln's Inn in Lent 1618, and the same year was elected recorder of Exeter. He is recorded to have given 5l. to the fund for building Lincoln's Inn Chapel in 1617 (Dugdale, Orig. 235, 255, 264-5). He died on 28 Aug. 1628, and was buried in Exeter Cathedral. He was brother of Sir Arthur Duck [q. v.]

[Prince's Worthies of Devon; Lansd. MS. 985, f. 77.]

J. M. R.