William Chamberlain Duncan, 32nd Mayor of Detroit

William C. Duncan was born in Lyons, New York on May 18, 1820.[1] The family moved to Rochester, New York in 1825, and in 1841 Duncan began working as a steward[2] on the passenger steamers crossing the Great Lakes. In 1846, he changed employers and began working on a steamer traveling through Lake Superior.[2] In 1849, Duncan moved to Detroit and became a brewer.[1]

Duncan was a Democrat,[2] and in 1852, he was elected an alderman, serving five years. He was first council president, after a revision of the city charter created that position.[2] He was mayor of Detroit for two years, 1862 and 1863, and in the fall of 1863 was elected a state senator.[1] He began in the banking business in 1865, but soon gave up the trade due to impaired health[2] and to take care of the property he had accumulated and to visit Europe.[1]

In 1873, however, Duncan was chosen as a member of the newly-created Board of Estimates.[2] In the same year, the city Democratic Party asked him to again be their candidate for mayor, but Duncan declined due to his ill-health.[2]

William C. Duncan died on December 19, 1877; he had no children