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
Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings
In office
1873–1875
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byDennis McCarthy
Succeeded byWilliam H. Baker
Constituency23rd district (1871–73)
24th district (1873–75)
In office
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863
Preceded byHenry Bennett
Succeeded byFrancis Kernan
Constituency21st district
Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims
In office
1861–1863
Judge of Cortland County, New York
In office
1855–1859
District attorney of Cortland County, New York
In office
1850–1855
Personal details
Born(1824-12-20)December 20, 1824
Warren, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 11, 1891(1891-02-11) (aged 66)
Cortland, New York, U.S.
Resting placeCortland Rural Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary L. Cuyler
Children2
Signature

Life

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Duell was born in Warren, Herkimer County, New York. He completed preparatory studies and subsequently studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Fabius. He married Mary L. Cuyler (1822–1894), and they had two children: Louise C. Duell (1848–1872) and Judge Charles Holland Duell (1850–1920).

Duell moved to Cortland in 1847, and was district attorney of Cortland County from 1850 to 1855. He was Judge of Cortland County from 1855 to 1859.

Duell was elected as a Republican to the 36th and 37th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1863; during the 37th Congress, he was Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. 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.

He was elected to the 42nd and 43rd United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1875. During the 43rd Congress he was Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings. 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. He resumed the practice of law in Cortland, where he died in 1891; interment was in Cortland Rural Cemetery.

Sources

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  • United States Congress. "R. Holland Duell (id: D000513)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Sackett family
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 21st congressional district

1859–1863
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd congressional district

1871–1873
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th congressional district

1873–1875
Succeeded by