Born in Manchester, Duxbury began working in a spinning factory in the Rossendale Valley when he was eight years old.
GULO was affiliated to the United Textile Factory Workers' Association, and Duxbury served as its vice president.
He also served a year as an auditor of the Trades Union Congress, and was a trustee of the Cotton Memorial Fund.
[1] Duxbury was a supporter of the Labour Party, and served on Chadderton Urban District Council for nine years.
[2] In 1923, he was elected to the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party, serving a single year.