William Duane

author

William Duane

1760–1835

A fiery newspaper editor and political activist, he helped shape the rough-and-tumble world of early American politics. His life took him from Ireland and India to Philadelphia, where his writing made him one of the best-known Jeffersonian voices of his day.

1 Audiobook

A military dictionary : or, Explanation of the several systems of discipline of different kinds of troops, infantry, artillery, and cavalry: the principles of fortification, and all the modern improvements in the science of tactics: comprising the pocket gunner, or little bombardier, the military regulations of the United States: the weights, measures, and monies of all nations: the technical terms and phrases of the art of war in the French language: particularly adapted to the use of the military institutions of the United States

A military dictionary : or, Explanation of the several systems of discipline of different kinds of troops, infantry, artillery, and cavalry: the principles of fortification, and all the modern improvements in the science of tactics: comprising the pocket gunner, or little bombardier, the military regulations of the United States: the weights, measures, and monies of all nations: the technical terms and phrases of the art of war in the French language: particularly adapted to the use of the military institutions of the United States

by William Duane

About the author

Born in 1760, William Duane became a journalist, publisher, author, and political activist whose career stretched across several countries before he made his biggest mark in the United States. Reliable biographical sources describe him as active on four continents, with early years tied to Ireland and a period working in Calcutta before he settled in Philadelphia.

Duane is best remembered as the editor and publisher of the Aurora, an influential Philadelphia newspaper closely associated with Jeffersonian politics in the early republic. His paper was known for sharp attacks on Federalists, and his work made him a major public voice in the intense political battles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Later in life, he traveled in South America and wrote about those journeys as well as political subjects. He died in Philadelphia in 1835, leaving behind a career that shows how closely journalism, activism, and national politics were intertwined in the early United States.