John Shute Duncan
{{short description|British museum curator (1768–1844)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = John Shute Duncan
| image = J. S. Duncan, L.L.D. (BM 1858,1009.324).jpg
| alt = Portrait
| caption = Portrait of J. S. Duncan
| birth_date = 19 December 1768
| birth_place = South Warnborough, Hampshire, England
| death_date = 1844
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| known_for = Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum
| father = John Shute DD
| relatives = Philip Bury Duncan (brother)
| education = Winchester College
New College, Oxford
| employer = New College, Oxford
Ashmolean Museum
| occupation = Museum keeper
}}
John Shute Duncan LLD (19 December 1768 – 1844) was an English academic, writer, and museum curator. He was Keeper (head) of the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford.{{cite ODNB| chapter=Duncan, John Shute (1768–1844) | first=Alan | last=Bell | title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | date=10 August 2023 | doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/8223 }}
Life
John Duncan was born in 1768 at South Warnborough, Hampshire, England, the eldest son of John Duncan DD, rector of South Warnborough.{{cite web| url=https://nannau.wales/art/nannau-1804-john-shute-duncan/ | title=Nannau by John Shute Duncan (1804) | website=nannau.wales | publisher=Nannau | location=Wales | accessdate=2 November 2024 }} He was educated at Winchester College and at New College, Oxford, of which he became a Fellow in 1791.{{cite web| url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/john-shute-duncan-142236 | title=John Shute Duncan | website=ArtUK | accessdate=2 November 2024 }} He was awarded a BA degree in 1791 and later an LLD degree.{{cite web| url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG137656 | title=John Shute Duncan | publisher=British Museum | accessdate=2 November 2024 }} In 1823, John Duncan was appointed Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. He was succeeded by his younger brother Philip Bury Duncan in 1826. His time at the Ashmolean Museum saw the start of significant changes in the natural history displays, based on "natural theology", as propounded by William Paley (1743–1805), the Archdeacon of Carlisle.{{cite journal| journal=Archives of Natural History | volume=27 | issue=3 | pages=369–406 | title=Re-inventing the Ashmolean. Natural history and natural theology at Oxford in the 1820s to 1850s | first1=Arthur | last1=MacGregor | first2=Abigail | last2=Headon | url=https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/anh.2000.27.3.369 | doi=10.3366/anh.2000.27.3.369 | publisher=The Society for the History of Natural History | date=2000 }}
Selected works
File:DUNCAN; Hints to the bearers of walking-stic Wellcome L0032583.jpg
File:DV 77 No.19 Crossing the Towey.png (1804). Sketch by John Shute Duncan during a tour of Wales.]]
John Shute Duncan wrote the following:{{cite web| url=https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Duncan%2C%20John%20Shute%2C%201769%2D1844 | title=Online Books by John Shute Duncan | work=The Online Books Page | publisher=University of Pennsylvania | accessdate=2 November 2024 }}
- Botanical Theology; or, Evidences of the existence and attributes of the deity, collected from the appearances of nature (Vincent, 1826), also by William Paley
- Collections Relative to Systematic Relief of the Poor, at different periods, and in different countries: with observations on charity, its proper objects and conduct, and its influence on the welfare of nations (printed by R. Cruttwell and sold by Murray, 1815)
- Hints to the bearers of walking-sticks and umbrellas (J. Murray, 3rd edition, 1809)
- Botano Theology (1825)
- Analogies of Organised Beings (1831)
Legacy
A painting of John Shute Shute by Thomas Kirby (1775–c.1848) is in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum. The Bodleian Library archives include a memorial of the life and character of John Shute Duncan by his brother Philip Bury Duncan.{{cite web| url=https://archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/12095 | title=Memorial of the life and character of John Shute Duncan by his brother Philip Bury Duncan | work=Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts | number=MS. Top. Oxon. e. 697 | publisher=Bodleian Library | location=UK | accessdate=2 November 2024 }} The Magdalen College archives include letters from John Shute Duncan and his younger brother Philip Bury Duncan.{{cite web| url=https://archive-cat.magd.ox.ac.uk/records/PR30/1/C4/8-Fols.-58-60 | title=Letters from John Shute Duncan (1769–1844) and Philip Bury Duncan (1772–1863), both museum curators and Fellows of New College (Philip was Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum 1826–54), 1824–1835 | work=Archives catalogue | publisher=Magdalen College, Oxford | location=UK | accessdate=2 November 2024 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscat-inline}}
{{Ashmolean Museum keepers and directors}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, John Shute}}
Category:People from Hampshire
Category:People educated at Winchester College
Category:Alumni of New College, Oxford
Category:Fellows of New College, Oxford
Category:19th-century English writers
Category:Keepers and directors of the Ashmolean Museum
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