Duncan K. McRae
| Duncan Kirkland McRae | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Consul to Paris, France | |
|
In office 1853–57 |
|
| United States District Attorney for North Carolina | |
|
In office 1843–50 |
|
| Member of the North Carolina House of Commons for Cumberland County |
|
|
In office 1842–43 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 16, 1820 Fayetteville, North Carolina |
| Died | February 12, 1888 (aged 67) Brooklyn, New York |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City |
| Political party | Democrats |
| Other political affiliations |
Whigs Independent Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Virginia Henry McRae |
| Profession | lawyer, courier, newspaper editor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–1862 |
| Rank |
 Colonel (CSA) |
| Commands |
5th North Carolina Infantry Regiment Garland's Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
Duncan Kirkland McRae (August 16, 1820 – February 12, 1888) was an American politician from North Carolina. After studying law, he served as attorney, diplomat and state legislator. He was an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, the wounds received in it complicating his later life. McRae was also a newspaper editor.
McRae was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the son of John McRae (1793–1880), Fayetteville's postmaster in the 1840s and 1850s. In 1825 the five-years old Duncan held the welcome speech at the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette. He attended the University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, and the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. Back in North Carolina he studied law under Judge Robert Strange, was admitted to the bar in 1841 and briefly practiced in Oxford before becoming a courier to Mexico for the State Department.
In 1842 young McRae was elected into the North Carolina House of Commons as Democratic representative for his native Cumberland County; serving a single term until 1843. Then he became a U.S. District Attorney, gaining a reputation as sharp lawmen and outstanding speaker. Partnering with Perrin Busbee he founded a short-lived newspaper, the Democratic Signal, in 1843. It was based in Raleigh, where he had moved to. He resigned in 1850 and moved to Wilmington the next year.
...
Wikipedia