Lawyer
Centurion, 1898–1901
Born 12 May 1838 in Oswego, New York
Died 14 August 1901 in Liberty, New York
Proposed by Henry A. Du Pont and Beverley Robinson
Elected 5 March 1898 at age fifty-nine
Century Memorial
John Duer was of the best American stock, his great-grandparents being Colonel William Duer of the Revolutionary Army, and Catherine Alexander, daughter of the gallant Lord Stirling. A graduate of Columbia College and Law School, he passed his professional life in New York. He was a pioneer in the system of title insurance, which has been of such signal benefit to modern dealings in real estate, and was one of the founders and an officer of the Lawyers’ Title Insurance Company. He was also a trustee of the Phoenix Assurance Company of London. Mr. Duer confined his legal practice to the branches of real estate and wills, on which he was a recognized authority, and to the management of estates. In these he was distinguished by industry, thoroughness, caution, and conscientiousness.
Edward Cary
1902 Century Association Yearbook