Alexander Duncan (1870-1963)

Alexander Duncan

One of Peterhead's top skippers at herring, great-line operations, and a pioneer of the steam drifter, Alexander left school in 1881 to take a berth in the family sail boat and maintain a tradition of fishing spanning many centuries.

Family life

Alexander Duncan was born in 1870, the first child of George Arthur Duncan and Jane Duncan (nee Buchan). The first among nine other siblings: John, William, George, Jane, James, Robert, Isabella, Peter and Andrew would all follow in time; Alexander initially lived with his parents at Brook Lane, Peterhead before the family moved to 28 Port Henry Road.

On 5th November 1896, Alexander married a young lady by the name of Margaret Troup who stayed at 83 Roanheads. The marriage was conducted by Rev James Stewart at the Esplanade (then part of the Roanheads overlooking Almanythie Creek). Sadly Margaret's mother, Margaret Troup (nee Taylor), died the following year in 1897. Alexander and Margaret lived at 30 Port Henry Road next door to Alexander's parents as recorded in the 1901 census. The family lived there until shortly before the outbreak of 1914/1915 and the commencement of the first World War when the family moved to the first of the new houses in Ugie Street - East Moorings, 36 Ugie Street (e'en though the more observant may pass comment on a more modern number of 39).

Fishing career

Alexander had his own sailboat the Jeannie built in 1894 and with the advent of steam, had the drifter Speedwell (PD491) commissioned in 1903, at such time there were only a dozen such vessels operating from Peterhead. In later years he had the drifter Marigold (PD81), which he commanded until the outbreak of World War II, when the vessel was commandeered; Alexander retired in 1940. A model of the Speedwell is on permanent loan to Arbuthnot Museum in Peterhead.