Background
He was born in Saint Catharines, Ontario, the son of William Duck and Mary Jackson, and left Ontario in 1859, arriving in British Columbia later that year by way of Panama.
He was born in Saint Catharines, Ontario, the son of William Duck and Mary Jackson, and left Ontario in 1859, arriving in British Columbia later that year by way of Panama.
He represented Victoria City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1871 to 1875, from 1882 to 1886 and from 1888 to 1890. After his arrival, Duck worked a claim in the mines on the Fraser River. In the fall of that year, he established a wagon and carriage factory in Victoria.
Duck was defeated when he ran for reelection to the assembly in 1875.
He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance from 1885 to 1886. Duck was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1886 but was reelected in an 1888 by-election held after Edward Gawler Prior was elected to the Canadian House of Commons.
He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1890. He died in Victoria at the age of 70.
Duck was a member of the Victoria volunteer fire department, serving in various positions including chief engineer He was also a prominent member of the local Masonic lodge and was provincial grand master from 1874 to 1875.