, an ancestor of the preceding Dr. Daniel Duncan, and also a physician,
, an ancestor of the preceding Dr.
Daniel Duncan, and also a physician, was of Scotch origin,
but born in London. He appears to have gone early in
life to Franct and during a residence at Saumur, acquired
the patronage of the celebrated Du Plessis Mornay, then
governor of that city, who procured him the professorship
of philosophy in the university. This situation he filled
with great reputation, and published several learned works,
among the rest, a Latin system of Logic, much commended
by Burgersdicius, in the preface to his “Jnstitutiones
Logicæ,
” which he frankly confesses to have formed entirely upon that model. By the interest of the governor,
his generous protector, to whom his Logic is dedicated, he
became afterwards regent [principal] of the university of
Saumur. Among his works is a book against the possession of the Ursuline nuns of Loudun. This piece made so
much noise, that Li ubardemont, commissary for the examination of the demoniacal possession of these young women, would have made it a serious affair for him, but for
the interposition of the marshal de Breze, to whom he was
physician. At Saumur he married a gentlewoman of a
good family, and gained so much reputation in his art,
that James I. king of Britain sent for him, with an offer of
making him his physician in ordinary and for this purpose he sent him the patent of it (as a security of what he was promised) before he crossed the sea but, as his wife
was extremely desirous not to leave her native country,
her relations, and acquaintance, he refused to accept of an
employment that was so honourable and advantageous to
his family, and spent the rest of his life at iSanmur, where
he died in 1640, to the universal regret of every one, whether high or low, papist or protestant. He was admirably
well skilled in philosophy, divinity, and mathematics, besides physic, which he practised with great honour; and
was a man of the greatest probity, and of a most exemplary
life.