William Duer | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 23rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | William J. Hough |
| Succeeded by | Leander Babcock |
| County Clerk of San Francisco, California | |
| In office October 1857 – October 1859 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Hayes |
| Succeeded by | Washington Bartlett |
| United States Consul to Valparaíso, Chile | |
| In office 1851–1853 | |
| Preceded by | Zabdiel W. Potter |
| Succeeded by | Reuben Wood |
| District Attorney of Oswego County, New York | |
| In office 1845–1847 | |
| Preceded by | Leander Babcock |
| Succeeded by | Ransom H. Tyler |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Oswego County | |
| In office January 1, 1840 – January 31, 1841 Serving with Peter Devendorf (1st term) Edward B. Judson (2nd term) | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Hawley, Edward B. Judson |
| Succeeded by | Peter Devendorf, Robert Kenyon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 25, 1805 New York City, New York |
| Died | August 25, 1879 (aged 74) New Brighton, Staten Island, New York |
| Resting place | Silver Mount Cemetery, Staten Island, New York |
| Political party | Whig (before 1860) Constitutional Union (1860) Democratic (after 1860) |
| Education | Columbia College |
| Profession | Attorney |
William Duer (March 25, 1805 – August 25, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician. In addition to serving in local offices in both California and New York, he represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1847 to 1851.
A native of New York City, Duer was a member of a family long prominent in New York politics and government. He graduated from Columbia College in 1824, studied law in New York City, and attained admission to the bar in 1828. After practicing in Oswego for two years, he returned to New York City, where he continued practicing law. After a brief residence in New Orleans, in 1835 he returned to Oswego, where he became active in politics and government as a Whig. He served in the New York State Assembly for two one-year terms (1840 and 1841) and was Oswego County's District Attorney from 1845 to 1847. In 1846, Duer was elected to the U.S. House. He was reelected in 1848 and served two terms, 1847 to 1851.
After leaving Congress, Duer served as U.S. Consul in Valparaíso, Chile for two years, then moved to San Francisco, where he practiced law and served as county clerk. In 1859 he returned to Oswego, where he was active in efforts to prevent the onset of the American Civil War. Once the conflict began, Duer supported the Union, but opposed the Republican Party and continued to advocate for concessions on the slavery and secession issues a way to end the war.
In retirement, Duer resided on Staten Island. He died there in 1879 and was buried at Silver Mount Cemetery.