Duncan Davidson (1733 – 15 August 1799) was a Scottish merchant and Member of Parliament.

He was the second son of William Davidson, of Davidson in the Black Isle, and his wife Jean. His elder brother Henry purchased Tulloch Castle from their maternal grandfather, Kenneth Bayne of Knockbain, in 1762; Duncan succeeded to the estate on his brother's death in 1781.

Duncan Davidson became a junior partner in the London merchant house of George Chandler (1721-79), which traded in sugar from the Caribbean. After Chandler's death, he formed a partnership with Charles Graham (before 1757 - 1806). The partnership of Davidson & Graham, operating from Fenchurch Buildings in the City of London, prospered in the sugar trade for over a quarter of a century.[1]

At the general election of 1790, Davidson was elected to Parliament for Cromartyshire with the support of William Pulteney, defeating Alexander Brodie who had the support of Henry Dundas. A compromise was reached whereby Davidson would hold the seat for four years before resigning in favour of a candidate to be decided by Brodie's supporters. However, once in Parliament, Davidson supported the government and Dundas agreed to his retaining the seat until the next general election.[2]

Davidson married twice, leaving one son (Henry) by his first wife; his son carried on the family business after his father's death.

References

  1. ↑ Alston, David (2021), Slaves and Highlanders: Silenced Histories of Scotland and the Caribbean, Edinburgh University Press, pp. 190 - 192, ISBN 9781474427319
  2. ↑ Fisher, David R. (1986), DAVIDSON, Duncan (1733-99), of Tulloch, Ross and Myles's, Ongar, Essex. and Cromartyshire in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820.


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