Duệ was born in 1850. Duệ's father was Trấn and his mother was Thông Nguyễn. His paternal grandparents were Tuyên and Chi Nghiêm. He had six brothers and a sister, named Hóa, Hòe, Vân, Bảo, Phùng, Cu and Đoan. He died due to giỗ 18/12 âm lịch at the age of 77 in 1927. He was buried in Cổ Hạc.