Duer, William (1747–1799)

English-born US merchant and financier. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and he was briefly assistant secretary of the US Treasury. Often involved in financial and land speculations, his imprisonment for debt caused the first financial panic in New York.

He was born in Devonshire and, on going to New York City, he quickly became an ardent patriot and prosperous merchant. He was involved in thwarting the Conway Cabal conspiracy, an attempt to remove George Washington from the command of the Continental Army.