George H. Durand
Encyclopedia
George Harman Durand was a politician, jurist, and attorney from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
at Lima, New York
. He moved to Oxford, Michigan
, in 1856, where he taught school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
.
, in 1858, where he was also a member of the board of education and a member of the board of aldermen, 1862-1867. He was mayor of Flint in 1873 and 1874.
In 1874, Durand was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 6th congressional district
to the 44th United States Congress
, serving from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877. In 1876, he lost in the general election to Republican Mark S. Brewer
. That same year, the community of Durand, Michigan
was named after him.http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/durand.html
Durand resumed the practice of his profession. In 1892, he was one of Michigan's Presidential Elector. He was appointed justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
in 1892 and subsequently was defeated for election to the court in 1893 by Frank A. Hooker. He was president of the State board of law examiners for many years and was appointed special assistant United States attorney in Chinese and opium smuggling cases in Oregon, serving from 1893 to 1896.
Durand died in Flint and is interred in Glenwood Cemetery there.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
Durand was born in Cobleskill, New York. He attended the common schools and Genesee Wesleyan SeminaryGenesee Wesleyan Seminary
The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was the name of two institutions located on the same site in Lima, New York.The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was founded in 1831 by the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The plan for its establishment dates to 1829 when the Conference...
at Lima, New York
Lima, New York
Lima, New York refers to two locations south of the City of Rochester, New York in Livingston County, New York:*Lima , New York*Lima , New YorkNote that the names of both places are pronounced like the bean, not like the capital of Peru....
. He moved to Oxford, Michigan
Oxford, Michigan
Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Charter Township. The village occupies one square mile and is both politically and geographically a part of the township. The village calls itself...
, in 1856, where he taught school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
.
Political life
He commenced practice at Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, in 1858, where he was also a member of the board of education and a member of the board of aldermen, 1862-1867. He was mayor of Flint in 1873 and 1874.
In 1874, Durand was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 6th congressional district
Michigan's 6th congressional district
Michigan's 6th congressional district is a United States congressional district in southwest Michigan. It consists of all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren, counties, and includes most of southern and eastern Allegan and a portion of western Calhoun counties.-Major...
to the 44th United States Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
, serving from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877. In 1876, he lost in the general election to Republican Mark S. Brewer
Mark S. Brewer
Mark Spencer Brewer was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Brewer was born in Addison Township, Michigan and attended the rural schools and Romeo and Oxford Academies. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1864 and commenced practice in Pontiac...
. That same year, the community of Durand, Michigan
Durand, Michigan
Durand is a city in Shiawassee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,933.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
was named after him.http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/durand.html
Durand resumed the practice of his profession. In 1892, he was one of Michigan's Presidential Elector. He was appointed justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
in 1892 and subsequently was defeated for election to the court in 1893 by Frank A. Hooker. He was president of the State board of law examiners for many years and was appointed special assistant United States attorney in Chinese and opium smuggling cases in Oregon, serving from 1893 to 1896.
Durand died in Flint and is interred in Glenwood Cemetery there.