Duer, John

JOHN DUER was one of the three sons of Col. William Duer, of the army of the Revolution, and was born at Albany, N.Y., Aug. 8, 1782. His mother (Col. Duer’s wife) was Catharine Alexander, daughter of Maj.-Gen. Alexander (Lord Stirling), well known in Revolutionary annals. William A. Duer, the older brother of John, was a distinguished lawyer, and for many years judge of the Supreme Court circuit of the State of New York. At the age of sixteen years John Duer entered the army, but abandoned it after two years’ service, and commenced the study of law at Goshen, whither his family had removed. Upon the completion of his studies he commenced the practice of his profession at Goshen, where he was subsequently joined by his brother, Alexander Duer, who lived but a few years, and left two daughters, now Mrs. J.V. Beane and Mrs. David F. Gedney. He removed from Goshen to New York about 1820, and soon took a prominent position at the bar of that city. Upon the passage of the law providing for a revision of the statutes of the State, he was appointed a member of the commission charged with that important work. He was elected a justice of the Superior Court of the city in 1849, and in 1857 became presiding justice. He was the author of a valuable treatise on the "Law and Practice of Marine Insurance," which is regarded as authority not only in the State, but by the bench and bar throughout the United States. He was also the author of other works on legal subjects, and the editor of a series of Superior Court Reports. His death occurred Aug. 8, 1858. In person he was of tall and commanding stature, a noble and highly intellectual countenance, and possessed rare powers of forensic eloquence. An extraordinary fluent delivery, great command of language, and a rich, full, deep-toned voice, with a dignified, noble carriage, imparted to his style of eloquence a most impressive effect. While a resident of this county his peculiar qualifications not only gave him high rank in his profession, but drew him into the politics of the times. In this field he unfortunately formed an alliance with the opponents of the war of 1812, and, notwithstanding his abilities, found himself in an overwhelmed minority. With others he sought to regain political standing by stepping to the front after the burning of the national capital (1815), but it was then too late. He was quite active in local undertakings, and gave tone to Goshen society through his family associations and his personal accomplishments. His wife was Annie Bunner, of the city of New York, sister to Rudolf Bunner, who was his first business partner after he located in Goshen. Another brother-in-law, Morris Robinson, the first cashier of the Bank of Orange County, was a son of Beverly Robinson, of the British army, whose father was Col. Beverly Robinson, one of the historic associates in the treason of Benedict Arnold.