Duane family

A leading national opinion maker and influential regional politician, tied by marriage to the families of Benjamin Franklin and cognate families, William Duane (1760-1835) played key roles in the field of political journalism, as well as national, Pennsylvania and local Philadelphia politics. Editor of the Aurora, William Duane (1760-1835) assured himself gratitude from Jefferson and the Republicans and enmity from President Adams and the Federalists for his open and effective attacks on Federalist policies. His son William John Duane (1780-1865), was a prominent member of the Pennsylvania legislature, a legal advisor to Stephen Girard, Solicitor for many of Philadelphia's premier institutions, and Treasurer of the United States (June-September 1833).

Born near Lake Champlain, NY in 1760 to John and Anastasia Duane, William Duane was sent to Ireland at the age of eleven to be raised by his mother's family. Receiving a quality education due to his mother's relative wealth, he was nonetheless disinherited upon his marriage to a Protestant. Moving to England for a short time to stay with an uncle and learn the printing business, he then removed to India in 1784 in order establish himself. Starting up a newspaper, The World, in Calcutta, William became quite successful in acquiring increased business and real estate holdings. Falling upon disfavor with the East India Company, he was subsequently kidnapped and involuntarily shipped back to England. Failing redress in compensation from the East India Company or Parliament, he decided to become a reporter on Parliament for a journal which ultimately became the London Times . Returning to America in 1795, William began work for the Aurora, a paper established by Benjamin Franklin Bache. William took over the editorship in of the Aurora in 1798 upon Bache's death, and transformed the Aurora from a local Republican paper into a state and national political organ. A partisan publication, the Aurora under William Duane became even more heavily associated with Jeffersonian politics and a thorn in the Federalists side. William became the focus of President Adams ire, with his ridicule of the Alien and Sedition Acts generating a great deal of hostile attention. Often openly physically attacked by Federalist sympathizers, he persevered and was credited by Jefferson with securing Pennsylvania and therefore the Presidency for him. William became heavily influential in Pennsylvania state politics, with the ability to determine the nomination of at least two Pennsylvania governors. With the War of 1812, William was appointed U. S. Adjutant General with the rank of Colonel. In 1822, he sold the Aurora and entered a new phase in his life. William traveled throughout South America in 1822, developing contacts, and surveying the political situation. Upon his return, he was appointed prothonotary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for the eastern district, a post he retained until his death in 1835.

A politician of some regional prominence and briefly a member of Andrew Jackson's cabinet, William John Duane (1780-1865) was an influential figure in both national and Pennsylvania politics. Beginning his career working for his father William Duane (1760-1835) at the Aurora, William John Duane then managed a bookstore and printing business in the nation's new capital, Washington, D. C., responsible (along with his father) for printing the Congressional Journal (Senate) 1803-1808. Following his marriage in 1805, he entered the paper business, managing sales. In 1809, he was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature, a relationship he never entirely removed himself from - even when not in office. With an inheritance from his father-in-law in 1811, he studied law and entered the bar in 1815. William John served as solicitor for many of Philadelphia's institutions, including the Carpenters' Company, as well as legal advisor to Stephan Girard. He wrote tracts which were greatly influential to Andrew Jackson's winning of Pennsylvania's vote in the Presidential election of 1828. Offered the mayoralty of Philadelphia, he declined. He was subsequently appointed by Andrew Jackson as one of three commissioners under the treaty with Denmark. William John Duane rejected an appointment by Jackson as U. S. District Attorney, and again rejected an appointment as Director of the Bank of the United States. In 1832 he did agree to accept the appointment as Secretary of the Treasury under Jackson, and assumed the office in June of 1833. Disagreeing with Jackson on the fundamental issue of removing Federal monies from the Bank of the United States (an early pre-cursor to the Federal Reserve), William John Duane spent the next few months attempting to negotiate with Jackson, finally refusing to cooperate, which resulted in his termination as Secretary of the Treasury on September 23, 1833. Upon his return to Philadelphia, William John Duane fell back on a limited private practice of law, supplemented by monies he had previously set aside. He became one of the Directors of Girard College for a term of office, and subsequently retired from public life.

From the guide to the Duane Family Collection, 1764-1933, (American Philosophical Society)