James Duane was the son of Anthony Duane and Althea (Keteltas) Duane. He was a member of the Continental Congress and of the New York Senate, and was appointed first federal judge of the District of New York (1789-94) by George Washington. From 1784 to 1789 he was the first Federalist mayor of New York. John Trumbull used this painting as a model for his portrait of Duane, which he painted for New York City Hall in 1805.