Portrait Gallery

DUVAL, Gabriel, associate justice of the U.S. supreme court, was born in Maryland Dec. 6, 1752, the descendant of a Huguenot family which emigrated from France after the revocation of the edict of Nantes. He was thoroughly educated, and having chosen the profession of law, studied in a local office, and after passing his examination was admitted to practice at the bar. Just before the outbreak of the revolutionary war he was appointed clerk of the Maryland legislature, but does not appear to have been personally active in the military service during the war. From 1794 to 1796 Mr. Duval was a member of congress, but he resigned in the spring of the latter year, having been appointed a judge of the supreme court of Maryland. He was a presidential elector in 1796 and 1800. In 1802 he was comptroller of the treasury, and continued in that office until November, 1811, when President Madison appointed him one of the justices of the United States supreme court. He continued on the supreme bench until 1836, when he resigned on account of his increasing age and infirmities. He died at his home in Prince George County, Md., March 6, 1844.