Jacob Duche, an American clergyman, born in Philadelphia in 1739, died there in January, 1798. He graduated at the college of Philadelphia in 1757, and completed his education at Cambridge, England. In 1759 he was ordained an assistant minister of Christ church in Philadelphia, of which in 1775 he became rector. By sermons delivered before congress and before the patriots of the army, he established his character both for eloquence and patriotism; and being in 1776 chosen chaplain to congress, he gave his salary for the relief of the families of those who had fallen in battle. But in 1777 he addressed a letter to Washington in which he pictured the hopelessness of resistance, and urged him to cease his desperate and ruinous efforts. Washington transmitted the letter to congress. Duche fled to England, and his estate was confiscated. He returned to America in 1790, but never regained influence or position. He published while in London two volumes of sermons, written in an easy and elegant style, which passed through several editions.