DUFF, Peter, educator, born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, 16 February 1802; died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 13 September 1869. His parents emigrated from Scotland in 1802, and settled on a large farm in New Brunswick. Filled with the desire for an active life, he left the farm without the knowledge of his family and went to Edinburgh, where he was educated. His intention was to become a physician, but he finally decided to be a merchant, and returned to New Brunswick, settling in St. Johns, here he soon became prominent, owning many ships and extensive warehouses. Owing to a large fire in 1835, he became bankrupt and went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where, in 1840, he founded " Duff's mercantile College," one of the first institutions of the kind in the country, which was very successful, and was carried on by his sons after his death. He published the "North American Accountant" (1847; enlarged ed., 1867; 20th ed., 1885).