Charles Duncan

Charles became an apprentice to a writer to the signet in Edinburgh, and eventually began to practise the law in his native town. He became a popular solicitor for ordinary people. In the 1850s he was appointed Procurator Fiscal. After his death Sheriff Charles Rampini referred to his 'acute mind, his singularly lucid judgment, his profound knowledge of law, and the keen interest which he took in all pertaining to the functions of the Procurator Fiscal's office'.

He held the position of Agent for the Union Bank in Lerwick since it began operations there in 1867 and upon death had been the Procurator-Fiscal for 32 years.

Duncan eventually became a town councillor in 1850, spending 3 years as junior Baillie, between 1856 to 1862 and 1865 to 1874 as senior Baillie. In those offices he became a reformer.

He and his supporters introduced a water and drainage system in the town, against opposition from some ratepayers. He set up a competent police force and improved Lerwick's Hillhead with pavements and grass. It is also said by some that it was Duncan's influence that was behind journalist Donald Stephen moving to Shetland in 1872 and founding The Shetland Times.

Duncan was knighted by the King of Belgium and the King of Holland for services rendered to visitors from those countries. He died in Lerwick in November 1884 of asthma.

His father Gilbert and uncle Andrew were also Lerwick Town Councillors.