R. Holland Duell

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
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	(1824-12-20)December 20, 1824 Warren, New York, U.S.
Died	February 11, 1891(1891-02-11) (aged 66) Cortland, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Cortland Rural Cemetery
Political 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]