DUNCAN, William, soldier, born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, 14 October 1772; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1864. In early youth he settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. During the war of 1812 he was superintendent of U. S. military stores, and was stationed at the arsenal in Philadelphia, holding the office of adjutant general during 1813'4. Later he was one of Governor Simon Synder's special aides, and commanded a brigade at Camp Dupont, near Wilmington, Del., when the British, before their defeat at Baltimore, threatened Philadelphia. For many years he was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. In 1829 he became surveyor of customs of Philadelphia, and held that office for two terms. He was a brigadier general of the Pennsylvania volunteers, and was one of the founders of Jefferson medical College, Philadelphia.