Duncan Heyward graduated from Washington and Lee University and returned to his family's rice plantation in Walterboro. He held leadership roles in civic organizations and military, which laid the groundwork for his political career. Heyward spent several years as governor, during which he advocated for white supremacy and economic policies like the Dispensary system. After his political career, he served as a federal tax collector and authored a book on rice farming.

Duncan Heyward's political identity is marked by a rigid adherence to white supremacy, blending traditional agrarian values with an unapologetic defense of racial hierarchy. His legislative initiatives during his governorship reveal an unexpected focus on economic reforms through the Dispensary system, juxtaposed against his staunch racial ideologies. Heyward's rhetorical style is direct and assertive, often invoking a sense of regional pride and racial destiny. His writings, particularly "Seed from Madagascar," offer a glimpse into an intricate understanding of agricultural decline, yet they are overshadowed by his controversial stances on race relations. Heyward's approach forces a reconsideration of how economic policy can coexist with deeply entrenched racial discrimination.