Denning Duer1
b. December 1812, d. 10 March 1891
- Family Background:
- Fairfield and Allied Families
Denning Duer was born in December 1812 in Rhinebeck, New York.2 He married Caroline King, daughter of James Gore King and Sarah Rogers Gracie, on 8 May 1837.1 He died on 10 March 1891 at his home in near Weehawken, New Jersey, at age 78.2 He was buried in Grace Episcopal Churchyard, Jamaica, Queens County, New York.
The Duer family has been identified with the history of the country and of New York city from the early Colonial days. William Duer, grandfather of Denning, came to this country from Devonshire, England, and in 1779 married Lady Catherine, daughter of Gen. William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, of the Continental Army. An ardent patriot, Mr. Duer served his country as Deputy Adjutant General of the New York militia and member both of the Provincial Congress and Continental Congress. Judge William Alexander Duer, of Albany, son of the latter, afterward president of Columbia College from 1829 to 1841, was a noted man in his day. He married Maria Denning, their son being Denning Duer. The young man came to New York city in his seventeenth year, to take a place as clerk in the counting room of W. F. Cary & Co. Having, in 1837, married Caroline, daughter [p.205] of James Gore King, he became a partner in the banking house of Prime, Ward & King, one of the oldest in Wall street. The style of the firm was afterward changed to James G. King & Sons, and later to James G. King's Sons. Of the latter firm, Mr. Duer was senior member until failing health compelled his retirement in 1875. He was a member of the Stock Exchange from 1843 until his death. Mr. Duer never entered public life, but was a strong Republican, and one of the earliest members of the Union club, joining in 1838. Mrs. Duer died in 1863. He left six children, Edward A., James Gore King, William Alexander, and Denning Duer, jr., and two daughters, and was buried at Jamaica, Long Island, long the home of members of the Duer and King families, where they have owned a large area of land since the days of the Revolution.2
The Duer family has been identified with the history of the country and of New York city from the early Colonial days. William Duer, grandfather of Denning, came to this country from Devonshire, England, and in 1779 married Lady Catherine, daughter of Gen. William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, of the Continental Army. An ardent patriot, Mr. Duer served his country as Deputy Adjutant General of the New York militia and member both of the Provincial Congress and Continental Congress. Judge William Alexander Duer, of Albany, son of the latter, afterward president of Columbia College from 1829 to 1841, was a noted man in his day. He married Maria Denning, their son being Denning Duer. The young man came to New York city in his seventeenth year, to take a place as clerk in the counting room of W. F. Cary & Co. Having, in 1837, married Caroline, daughter [p.205] of James Gore King, he became a partner in the banking house of Prime, Ward & King, one of the oldest in Wall street. The style of the firm was afterward changed to James G. King & Sons, and later to James G. King's Sons. Of the latter firm, Mr. Duer was senior member until failing health compelled his retirement in 1875. He was a member of the Stock Exchange from 1843 until his death. Mr. Duer never entered public life, but was a strong Republican, and one of the earliest members of the Union club, joining in 1838. Mrs. Duer died in 1863. He left six children, Edward A., James Gore King, William Alexander, and Denning Duer, jr., and two daughters, and was buried at Jamaica, Long Island, long the home of members of the Duer and King families, where they have owned a large area of land since the days of the Revolution.2
Citations
- [S707] John King of Boston MA, online http://members.tripod.com/~loupero/famous1.htm
- [S711] Henry Hall, editor, America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography. Vol. 1 (New York, NY: New York Printing Company, 1895), 205.
