R. Holland Duell
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rodolphus (sometimes Robert) Holland Duell (December 20, 1824 – February 11, 1891) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was elected to Congress and became United States Commissioner of Patents.
R. Holland Duell | |
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| United States Commissioner of Patents | |
| In office October 1, 1875 – January 30, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | John M. Thacher |
| Succeeded by | Ellis Spear |
| Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings | |
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | John B. Hawley |
| Succeeded by | Henry B. Metcalfe |
| Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Revolutionary Claims | |
| In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | George N. Briggs |
| Succeeded by | Hiram Price |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
| In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | William H. Baker |
| Constituency | 23rd district (1871–73) 24th district (1873–75) |
| In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Francis Kernan |
| Constituency | 21st district |
| Judge of Cortland County, New York | |
| In office 1855–1859 | |
| Preceded by | Lewis Kingsley |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Brewer |
| District Attorney of Cortland County, New York | |
| In office 1850–1855 | |
| Preceded by | Augustus L. Ballard |
| Succeeded by | Edward C. Reed |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1824 Warren, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 1891 (aged 66) Cortland, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cortland Rural Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Mary L. Cuyler (m. 1846) Mary H. Greene (m. 1888) |
| Children | 4 (including Charles Holland Duell) |
| Signature |  |
Early life
Duell was born in Warren, Herkimer County, New York on December 20, 1824, a son of Joseph Duell and Phoebe (Potter) Duell.[1][2] He completed preparatory studies and subsequently studied law, first with Daniel Gott and later with Charles B. Sedgwick.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Fabius.[3]
Family
In 1846, Duell married Mary Ledyard Cuyler (1822–1884).[2] They were the parents of four children: Louise C., Charles H., Kate L., and Richard C.[2] In December 1888, he married Mary H. Greene.[4]
Career
Originally a Whig, he joined the Republican Party when it was formed in the mid-1850s.[3] Duell moved to Cortland in 1847, and was district attorney of Cortland County from 1850 to 1855.[1] He was Judge of Cortland County from 1855 to 1859.[1] He was a delegate to the 1856 Republican National Convention, as well as the 1864 convention and the one in in 1868.[3]
Duell was elected as a Republican to the 36th and 37th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1863;[1] during the 37th Congress, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.[5] He resumed the practice of law in Cortland and was Assessor of Internal Revenue for the 23rd District of New York from 1869 to 1871.[1]
He was elected to the 42nd and 43rd United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1875.[1] During the 43rd Congress he was Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings.[5] Duell was appointed as United States Commissioner of Patents by President Ulysses S. Grant on October 1, 1875, and remained in office until January 30, 1877.[1] He resumed the practice of law in Cortland and New York City.[1] He died in Cortland on February 11, 1891; interment was in Cortland Rural Cemetery.[6]
