Revolutionary War Era Political Leader. The father of Columbia University President William A. Duer and the grandfather of Congressman William Duer (1805-1879), the elder Duer became aide de camp to the Governor General of India in 1765, and settled in New York in 1768. He operated saw and grist mills and and later expanded his operations to include a snuff mill and a powder works. Duer was appointed justice of the peace and Judge of Charlotte (now Washington) County in 1773. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776 and 1777, and also served in the State Senate and as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1778 he relocated to Fishkill and later to Paterson, New Jersey. Duer was a member of the Continental Congress in 1777 and 1778. He moved to New York City in 1783 and served in the New York Assembly in 1786. He was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1790. Duer engaged in financial speculations while in office, and the government sued him for irregularities in the Treasury Department. He was imprisoned for debt, which led in part to America's first economic recession, the Panic of 1792. He died while on parole and was interred in the family vault under St. Thomas Church. He was later reinterred at Grace Church.
Revolutionary War Era Political Leader. The father of Columbia University President William A. Duer and the grandfather of Congressman William Duer (1805-1879), the elder Duer became aide de camp to the Governor General of India in 1765, and settled in New York in 1768. He operated saw and grist mills and and later expanded his operations to include a snuff mill and a powder works. Duer was appointed justice of the peace and Judge of Charlotte (now Washington) County in 1773. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776 and 1777, and also served in the State Senate and as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1778 he relocated to Fishkill and later to Paterson, New Jersey. Duer was a member of the Continental Congress in 1777 and 1778. He moved to New York City in 1783 and served in the New York Assembly in 1786. He was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1790. Duer engaged in financial speculations while in office, and the government sued him for irregularities in the Treasury Department. He was imprisoned for debt, which led in part to America's first economic recession, the Panic of 1792. He died while on parole and was interred in the family vault under St. Thomas Church. He was later reinterred at Grace Church.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Duer memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
