Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown
| Admiral The Viscount Duncan | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
1 July 1731 Dundee, Angus, Great Britain |
| Died | 4 August 1804 (aged 73) Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |
 Great Britain United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1746–1804 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Cape St Vincent Battle of Camperdown |
| Awards | Naval Gold Medal |
Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan (1 July 1731 – 4 August 1804) was a British admiral who defeated the Dutch fleet off Camperdown (north of Haarlem) on 11 October 1797. This victory was considered one of the most significant actions in naval history.
Adam was the second son of Alexander Duncan, Baron of Lundie, Angus, (d. May 1777) Provost of Dundee, and his wife (and first cousin once removed) Helen, daughter of John Haldane of Gleneagles, was born at Dundee. In 1746, after receiving his education in Dundee, he entered the Royal Navy on board the sloop Trial, under Captain Robert Haldane, with whom, in HMS Trial and afterwards in HMS Shoreham, he continued till the peace in 1748. In 1749 he was appointed to HMS Centurion, then commissioned for service in the Mediterranean, by the Hon. Augustus Keppel (afterwards Viscount Keppel), with whom he was afterwards in HMS Norwich on the coast of North America, and was confirmed in the rank of lieutenant on 10 January 1755.
In August 1755 he followed Keppel to the Swiftsure, and in January 1756 to the Torbay, in which he continued till his promotion to commander's rank on 21 September 1759, and during this time was present in the expedition to Basque Roads in 1757, at the reduction of Gorée in 1758, and in the blockade of Brest in 1759, up to within two months of the battle of Quiberon Bay, from which his promotion just excluded him.
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