William Duer (delegate)

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William Duer.

William Duer (March 18, 1743^[1] – May 7, 1799) was an American lawyer, developer, and speculator from New York City. A federalist, Duer wrote in support of ratifying the United States Constitution as "Philo-Publius." He had earlier served in the Continental Congress and the convention that framed the New York Constitution. In 1778, he signed the United States Articles of Confederation.

He was related by marriage via the Robert Livingston family to Alexander Hamilton. Duer's inveterate speculating and his mishandling of a joint business endeavor publicly embarrassed Hamilton and caused Duer to spend seven years in debtor's prison.

His son William Alexander Duer was a justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and for many years the President of Columbia University; he was also a grandson of William Alexander. His grandson William Duer served in the U.S. Congress.

[edit] References

^ Robert F. Jones, "The King of the Alley": William Duer; Politician, Entrepreneur, and Speculator, 1768-1799 (1992), p. 1; Jonathan J. Bean. "Duer, William"; American National Biography Online, February 2000. Most older sources give Duer's year of birth as 1747.

[edit] External links

William Duer (delegate) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

v • d • e Signatories of the Articles of Confederation

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