Andrew Duncan, the elder

Andrew Duncan, the elder
Born	17 October 1744 Pinkerton, Scotland
Died	5 July 1828 (aged 83)
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Physician and professor

Andrew Duncan, the elder (17 October 1744 – 5 July 1828) FRSE FRCPE FSA(Scot) was a Scottish physician and professor at Edinburgh University. He was joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Duncan was the second son of Andrew Duncan, merchant and shipmaster, of Crail, afterwards of St. Andrews, his mother being a daughter of Professor William Vilant, and related to the Drummonds of Hawthornden. He was born at Pinkerton, near St. Andrews, on 17 October 1744, and was educated first by Sandy Don of Crail, celebrated in the convivial song of "Crail Town," and afterwards by Richard Dick of St. Andrews.

Duncan proceeded next to University of St Andrews, where he obtained the M.A. degree in 1762. As a youth he was known as "the smiling boy", and his character for good nature was retained through life. Lord Erskine and his brother Henry Erskine were among his school fellows and fast friends through life. In 1762, he entered Edinburgh University as a medical student, being the pupil of Cullen, John Gregory, Alexander Monro secundus, Hope, and Black.

Duncan was president of the Royal Medical Society in 1764, and five times afterwards. His attachment to the society continued through life; he was its treasurer for many years; and in 1786 a gold medal was voted to him for his services. On the completion of his course of studies in 1768, he went a voyage to China as surgeon of the East India Company's ship Asia. Refusing an offer of five hundred guineas to undertake a second voyage, Duncan graduated M.D. at St. Andrews in October 1769, and in May 1770 became a licentiate of the Edinburgh College of Physicians. In the same year he was an unsuccessful candidate for the professorship of medicine in St. Andrews University.

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