28 Facts About Duncan Curry

Duncan Fraser Curry was an American baseball pioneer and insurance executive.

Duncan Curry is credited with participating in the drafting of the Knickerbocker Rules, the first written set of official baseball rules.

Duncan Curry served on the game's various rules committees from 1845 until at least 1856.

Duncan Curry was one of the founders of the Republic Fire Insurance Company and served as its secretary from 1852 to 1882.

Duncan Curry was born in New York City on November 28,1812.

Duncan Curry worked in the insurance business for more than 35 years.

In 1842, Duncan Curry was part of a group of prominent New York businessmen who gathered in the afternoons to play a game that became baseball.

On September 23,1845, at a meeting held at McCarty's Hotel in New York City, the Knickerbockers Base Ball Club was formally established, and Duncan Curry was selected as its first president.

Duncan Curry served on the committee that drafted the Knickerbocker Rules, reputed to be the first set of official written rules for the game of baseball.

Duncan Curry had arranged for two nines, the ins and outs.

Duncan Curry had laid out a diamond-shaped field, with canvas bags filled with sand or sawdust for bases at three points and an iron plate for the home base.

Duncan Curry had arranged for a catcher, a pitcher, three basemen, a short fielder and three outfielders.

Duncan Curry's plan met with much good derision, but he was so persistent in having us try his new game that we finally consented more to humor him than with any thought of it becoming a reality.

Duncan Curry continued to be a prominent member of the Knickerbockers for many years.

Duncan Curry was appointed by the Knickerbockers as a member of the game's various rules committees for more than a decade and through at least 1856.

In November 1853, Curry was assigned to a rules committee that included Doc Adams, William H Tucker, and members of another New York baseball club, the Eagle Club.

In 1856, Duncan Curry became involved in a debate among the Knickerbockers as to whether to allow nonmembers to participate in games if fewer than 18 men were available to play.

The Duncan Curry measure was approved by a vote of 13 to 11.

Duncan Curry was an advocate of the seven-inning format and was appointed to a committee to consider the question.

Duncan Curry was on the Committee on Rules and helped draft the first rules under which base ball was regularly played.

Duncan Curry played a posthumous role in the conclusion of the Mills Commission crediting Abner Doubleday with inventing the game of baseball.

At the time of the 1850 United States Census, Duncan Curry was living in New York City's 16th Ward, and his occupation was listed as a clerk.

At the time of the 1860 United States Census, Duncan Curry was living in New York City's 22nd Ward, and his occupation was listed as a bookkeeper.

Duncan Curry was shown in the Census as having real estate valued at $8,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000.

Duncan Curry later lived in Brooklyn at 282A Gates Avenue and 279 Ryerson.

Duncan Curry died at his home in Brooklyn in April 1894 at age 81.

Duncan Curry's funeral was held at St James Episcopal Church in Brooklyn.

Duncan Curry was survived by a son, Duncan Curry, and a daughter, Mary Gray Curry Wolff.