George Durant was born in England on October 1, 1632. He moved to Northumberland County, Virginia by July 1658. Durant was a mariner and by 1660 he was interacting with the Yeopim Indians, conducting trade and purchasing land. In 1661 Durant moved to the Perquimans River in present-day North Carolina and became a leading colonist in the region. During Culpepper's Rebellion Durant sided with the rebels and hosted the provisional government in his home. In 1679 he became the colony's attorney general and the speaker of the colonial assembly. Governor Seth Sothel removed Durant from office in 1682. He died in Perquimans in about January 1693.