Thomas Young Duncan

Thomas Young Duncan (1836 – 18 August 1914), sometimes referred to as "Tam Duncan",^[1] was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.

The Honourable Thomas Young Duncan
3rd Minister of Agriculture
In office 2 July 1900 – 6 August 1906
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon
Preceded by	John McKenzie
Succeeded by	Robert McNab
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Oamaru
In office 5 December 1890 – 7 December 1911
Preceded by	Thomas William Hislop
Succeeded by	Ernest Lee
New Zealand Legislative Councillor
In office 13 June 1912 – 18 August 1914†
Appointed by	Joseph Ward
Personal details
Born	1836 Plumbridge, Ireland
Died	18 August 1914 New Zealand
Political party	Liberal

Early life

Born at Plumbridge, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1836, Duncan was educated at Castledamph National School. In 1858 he went to Victoria where he worked on the goldfields, and then in 1862 followed the gold rush to Central Otago in New Zealand. After little success, he began farming at Pukeuri, north of Oamaru, and lived there for the remainder of his life.^[2]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1881–1884	8th	Waitaki			Independent
1884–1887	9th	Waitaki			Independent
1887–1890	10th	Waitaki			Independent
1890–1893	11th	Oamaru			Liberal
1893–1896	12th	Oamaru			Liberal
1896–1899	13th	Oamaru			Liberal
1899–1902	14th	Oamaru			Liberal
1902–1905	15th	Oamaru			Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Oamaru			Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Oamaru			Liberal

He represented the Waitaki electorate from 1881 to 1890 and then the Oamaru electorate from 1890 to 1911, when he was defeated by Ernest Lee.^[3] He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council on 13 June 1912 and served until his death in 1914.^[4]