DUANE, Wii.r.fAm (17110-M15). An Ameri can politician and journalist, born in northern New' York near the banks of Lake Champlain. Ile was sent to Ireland in 1771 to be edueated, learned the printer's trade, and in 1784 went to British India, where he made a fortune. and established a new-paper ealled The World at Calcutta. In of tot) free criticism of the loovernm•nt authorities there, Duane was kidnapped at the command of sir John Shore, tl.e 6oNcrno•, and deported to England, while his property in India Was Duane's of to seeure relief, either from the East India ( on or the British GOVerillnellt, were un a‘ailitig, and he again entered the field of jour ifalism. becoming editor of the (ha, rill r• in London, a paper which later became the London Timis. In 1795 he returned to America, where he became associated with Franklin Bache in Philadelphia, in editing the .1 urora, of the strongest Republican organs in the country. Forming alliance with Ali•hac•1 Leib and other radical Republicans, lie dominated the party in Pennsylvania, for several In the .1 tironi, following the journalistic ethods introduced ill America by Cobbett, lie attn. Is'ed his political and personal monies bit• ter]y and unsparingly, tilling his columns With tierce illVecti‘e, and Scandal id every sort. Not only were the the objects of his attacks, but, disappointed in not receiving from Jefferson reward, commensurate with what he colleetVed to lie the value of his services to him. he set out to hamper the Ad ministration, and to sow discord among its members. He attacked tiallatin constantly, nt h) meting to arouse Jefferson's jealousy by de claring that lie was seeking to become his sue c-e-.or in the Presidency. in Isno charges made
Ira him in Connection With the Ross Electoral fount Rill led to his being -;11111111oned before the bar of the l'ilited Status Senate on a charge of libel. lie was arraigned. refire( to ap pear for trial or put in a Ilvien,o. denying the Senate's jurisdiction. Ile was adjudged guilty of contempt, and his arrest ordered, lint lie was never arrested. in Pennsylvania politics he exerted great influence. and originated the or gaidZation known a. the 'Friends of the People' in opposition to that wing of the party repre sented by 1)allas. and in lac pressed the wholesale impeachment of the state Supreme Court judges. The transfer of the seat of government to Viashington de creased the importance of the Aurora, which grew more abusive as influenee grew Li 18118. just before retiring. Jefferson appointed Duane a lieutenant-colonel in the army. lie con tinued to edit the Aurora, and attacked 31aili son in particular, who quieted him in 181:1 by an appointment as adjutant-general. Ile sold the i in and after traveling in South Aineric•t, wrote an aecount of it entitled .1 Visit to Columbia in 1. •• ?.?- 2.3 H21) . lie also pith I i The lli.ssi.ssippi Question 11q°31 Wel icalary 11R10).: in Eviton!«,( the _I •ts and Seb•nn s I 1811 ) ; //ondliool: Ville men I : How/hook for I afantry 11813) ; and ricon Military Library (I519).