The Brave Benbow website [visit link] makes mention of the
busts:
"Busts, head and shoulders, within
decorated roundels, of British admirals in uniforms of their period. Each
roundel consists of a plain outer moulding with inner circular wreath (laurel?)
topped by single rose motif. The base has an inscription panel with each
admiral’s surname. The innermost moulding is rimmed by a rope. All are in very
high relief. Each head is either more or less face on or at a three quarter turn
to the left or right. They run along the top of the north facade of the building
facing the river. From left to right (east to west): Anson, Drake, Cook (these
first three on east pavilion), Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich (over door),
Rodney, Duncan, Collingwood, Howe, Nelson, St Vincent."
The building is Grade II listed and the
entry at the English Heritage website [visit
link] tells us:
"Former rackets courts, now
laboratories. The western block 1874-5 by Colonel Clarke RE, the central screen
and eastern part identical in design and added in 1882-3 by General Pudsey RE to
form a symmetrical composition. Converted to laboratories in c.1906. Stone and
stuccoed facades, roof hidden by high parapets. Seven-bay screen with higher
two-bay ends. Tuscan pilasters across screen break forward into pairs of Ionic
columns set between engaged columns with fluted capitals, all these in antis
under projecting parapets at ends. The parapets are elaborate, with raised
centrepieces supported on swags and urns set on high and elaborately carved
plinths as cornerpieces; all this decoration the work of C R Smith. Rusticated
ground floor. At first-floor height busts in high relief set in roundels depict
from east to west: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Rodney,
Duncan, Collingwood, Howe, Nelson and St Vincent. Nine-bay side elevations and
three-bay rear also denoted by pilasters, the ground floor rusticated under
fluted frieze and with empty first-floor roundels. Above these a deep frieze and
an attic storey also broken into bays by short pilaster strips."
The Royal Naval Museum website [visit
link] tells us about Adam Duncan:
" Duncan was born 1 July 1731 in
Dundee. He entered the navy in April 1746 when he joined HMS Trial under the
patronage of his cousin, Captain Robert Haldane. The ship was involved in the
hunt for Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) who was in hiding
on the Western Isles of Scotland after his defeat at Culloden. The ship gave
chase and captured the French vessel Le Bien Trouve, sent to pick up the
fugitive Prince.
Haldane and Duncan transferred to
the frigate HMS Shoreham in January 1748, patrolling the English Channel and had
some success at capturing French privateers before joining Sir Edward Hawke’s
squadron patrolling Belle-Isle in the Bay of Biscay. On 22 June while at anchor
in gale force winds, a anchor rope broke and the ship drifted onto the rocks.
She was severely damaged and returned to England where she was paid off on
September 13.
In January 1749, Duncan joined HMS
Centurion as Midshipman under Admiral Keppel and the two formed an instant bond.
The ship sailed from Portsmouth for the Mediterranean on 25 April, but repairs
to her topmast sail delayed their journey in Plymouth until May 11th. The
purpose of their voyage was to negotiate for the release of British hostages and
cargoes in Algiers; this was not achieved until 1752 and the ship paid off in
July. For the next two years, Duncan was on half pay. He returned to active
service when he was appointed Acting Lieutenant on HMS Norwich. He was confirmed
in the rank of Lieutenant on 10 January 1755 and rejoined Keppel in HMS
Centurion, when Keppel had been appointed as Commander in Chief North American
Station.
At the outbreak of the Seven Years
War in 1756, he joined Keppel in HMS Torbay in July as Second Lieutenant and the
ship joined Admiral Hawke’s squadron off Brest. The ship captured a French snow,
Diligent on 25 November, intercepted a French store ship, Anna Sophia, who was
carrying British prisoners and recaptured a British snow, previously taken by
French privateers. She came into action with a French frigate, Chariot Royal,
who was outgunned and surrendered. HMS Torbay returned to England with her
prizes in December 1756. She rejoined the squadron in June 1757, after Keppel’s
attendance at the court-martial and execution of Admiral Byng. Lt Duncan was an
enthusiastic participant in boarding parties, showing great courage and
leadership. The ship returned to Portsmouth for a complete refit in late summer
1757 and then prepared for an expedition against the French at Isle d’Aix in the
Basque Roads. On 11 November 1758, Duncan was promoted to First Lieutenant on
HMS Torbay and he remained with this ship while it was involved with the
blockade of Brest. He left the ship when he was promoted commander on 21
September 1759 and was appointed to HMS Royal Exchange, narrowly missing out in
the action at Quiberon Bay. The ship he joined was a hired vessel and used as an
armed escort for merchant convoys, which he continued in until 1761, when on 25
February, after Keppel had requested his services, Duncan was promoted to
Captain and appointed to HMS Valiant. During this service, he was involved in
the reduction of Belle-Isle (1761) and Havana (1762), returning to England in
1763. After being paid off, Duncan found his naval career halted for the next
fifteen years.
During the intervening period, he
returned to his native country and lived in Dundee. He married Henrietta Dundas
on 6 June 1777 and through the influence of her family, he was at last able to
return to active service. At the end of 1778, he was appointed to HMS Suffolk,
but almost immediately transferred to HMS Monarch. In January 1779, he sat as a
member of the court-martial of Admiral Keppel, the result of a dispute with
Admiral Palliser. However, Duncan often interfered, in Keppel’s favour, with the
prosecution case and the Admiralty tried to stop him from attending the
subsequent court-martial of Admiral Palliser by ordering his ship to the St
Helen’s anchorage. His crew refused to set sail unless they were paid in advance
and so, inadvertently, he was still able to sit at Palliser’s trial against
Admiralty wishes. In Summer 1779, HMS Monarch was attached to the Channel fleet
under Sir Charles Hardy, but in December, she was part of the squadron that was
taken by Admiral Rodney to assist in the relief of Gibraltar, and during an
operation that was trying to bring supplies to the besieged island, took part in
the “moonlight” battle off Cape St Vincent on 16 January 1780, when Rodney’s
squadron defeated a Spanish fleet under Admiral de Langara. On their return to
England, Duncan left HMS Monarch and was not in active command again until 1782,
when Keppel became First Lord of the Admiralty.
Duncan was appointed to HMS
Blenheim and attached to Lord Howe’s fleet in the Mediterranean, where they were
involved in the relief of Gibraltar and an encounter with a combined allied
fleet off Cape Spartel. He succeeded Sir John Jervis in command of HMS
Foudroyant in 1782, and after the peace, was in command of HMS Edgar, a guard
ship at Portsmouth for three years. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 24
September 1787, followed by Vice Admiral on 1 February 1793, and just before
attaining the rank of Admiral on 1 June 1795, he was recalled to active service,
as Commander in Chief North Sea on board HMS Venerable. The main purpose of his
employment was to guard against attack from the Dutch fleet, who were at the
time allied to the French and mainly based in the Texel. The first two years
were spent blockading the Dutch coast, but in spring 1797, the Dutch were
preparing to sail.
In the meantime, the mutinies at
Spithead and the Nore had broken out, creating disaffection and inactivity
within the British fleet. By his own personal influence and strength of purpose,
countered with a sympathy for the sailor’s plight, Duncan was able to keep his
own crew from joining the mutiny, while most of his fleet, apart from HMS
Adamant, refused to leave the Yarmouth anchorage. The two ships were left to
continue the blockade, but by clever signalling, Duncan managed to convince the
Dutch fleet that the remainder of the British ships were just over the horizon.
The Dutch were unable to take advantage of the paralysis in the British fleet as
they were not yet ready for their planned invasion of Ireland with the French
and the weather was against them. However, the Dutch government, against the
opinion of Admiral de Winter, ordered them to set sail in early October . The
mutinies over, Duncan’s fleet were revictualling at Yarmouth when the signal
from the observation squadron came through that the enemy were at sea. Duncan’s
fleet left Yarmouth rapidly and the Dutch were sighted on 11 October off the
enemy coast near Camperdown. When the fleets engaged, Duncan did not wait for
his squadron to form a line of battle, disregarding the Fighting Instructions
laid down by the Admiralty, and the battle was won when nine Dutch sailing ships
and two of their frigates were captured. The fleet returned with their prizes to
avoid a violent gale. The tactics used by Duncan at Camperdown were a forerunner
of those used by Nelson at Trafalgar.
At home, Duncan was raised to the
peerage as Baron Lundie and Viscount Camperdown. Many felt that these were
inadequate rewards for the victory. He continued in service in the North Sea
until 1801. He died suddenly on 4 August 1804 at an inn at Cornhill on the
Scottish border where he had stopped on his journey to Edinburgh. He left three
children, the eldest son succeeding him to the peerage, and who was finally
granted the earldom that his father had richly deserved in 1831. Duncan had been
a man of great personal courage and humanity; he had dealt mercifully with those
of his crew who had mutinied since he had great sympathy with the conditions in
their life. Nelson wrote of him 'There is no man who more sincerely laments the
heavy loss… but the name of Duncan will never be
forgot.'"