Notorious throughout modern history, the idea of “preserving your honor” was an important and culturally significant concept through most English-speaking countries. Challenges and duels became a very visible way in which to do just that and individuals across society participated after affronts from the scandalous to the very minor.
Notorious throughout modern history, the idea of “preserving your honor” was an important and culturally significant concept through most English-speaking countries. Challenges and duels became a very visible way in which to do just that and individuals across society participated after affronts from the scandalous to the very minor.
The entries in this text range significantly in detail, from the simplest entry including only a name, a place and a general date, to an incredibly comprehensive account of events leading up to the death of American Revolutionary Alexander Hamilton at the hand of then Vice-President Aaron Burr. You will find events from throughout England, Ireland and the United States, predominantly, but you will see entries for other locations including Scotland and France. Information can include:
The publication of this material occurred in the United States, thus, locations not specified with a country should at least initially be assumed to be in America, as should any reference to military units, such as “Vandyke, Lieutenant in the Navy” would refer to the United States Navy.
This searchable index has been created from the 1855 text, Notes on duels and duelling [sic] : alphabetically arranged, with a preliminary historical essay, written by Lorenzo Sabine. Mr. Sabine was a US Representative from Massachusetts, but he is more well remembered for his work on the Loyalists of the American Revolution; those who remained loyal to the King and England during that intense conflict. The author himself opens the Preface with the admission that this work is not complete and closes it with acknowledging that he has himself questioned sources and reports of events to the extent where he has had to “select the account which appeared the most probable.” Careful researchers will understand the premise around which this information was originally gathered and combine this source with others to confirm – or not – the information therein.
Challenges and duels have a long and notorious history, in Western society originating from the medieval judicial duel and the pre-Christian practices, such as the Viking age holmgang. During the 17th and 18th centuries, they were largely single combats fought with swords but eventually transitioned to pistols. Duels were based on a code of honor and they were fought not as much to kill your opponent, but to gain ‘satisfaction’ for a perceived wrong. While traditionally a male activity, there have been instances of duels fought between women. Legislation against dueling starts as early as 1215 with the Fourth Council of the Lateran and various locations enacted their own in the centuries since. Duels generally fell out of practice due to public opinion in England by the mid-19th Century and in the United States around the time of the Civil War in the 1860s.
The last known fatal duel in England occurred in 1845 when James Alexander Seton faced off with Henry Hawkey over the “affections of his wife,” the duel taking place near Gosport. Hawkey won the day but was ultimately tried for murder, though he was acquitted.
Perhaps the most notorious duel is the fatal wound incurred by former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and sitting Vice President Aaron Burr in July, 1804. The two had a long and complicated relationship which ultimately resulted in Hamilton’s death. The United States would eventually lose as many officers from the US Navy in duels as it did in combat at sea between 1798 and the Civil War. Other historically relevant names from duels include Irish political leader Daniel O’Connell when he and John D’Esterre fought in February 1815; D’Esterre was killed. You will find various Kings peppered across these pages, including John, King of England, when he challenged Philip, King of France, in 1195 or 1196; Philip never complied nor acknowledged the challenge. These events were not limited to the royal, the military, or the political, however. In 1704, George Frederic Handel, of the Messiah, challenged composer M. Matheson for a breach of etiquette, “during the performance of the latter’s [Matheson’s] opera of Cleopatra.” Matheson’s weapon was damaged when he hit one of Handel’s buttons, which put an end to the affair. (page 212). The last known fatal duel was in Perth, Ontario in 1833 when Robert Lyon challenged John Wilson over remarks made about a local schoolteacher, whom Wilson married after Lyon was killed. The mineral rushes of the western parts of Canada and the United States were known to have many events, as was the American southeast. By the outbreak of World War I, dueling had been made illegal in nearly every country in the western world and was widely seen as old-fashioned and outdated.
The appendix of this publication includes extracts from newspapers of the day, essays on dueling customs, summaries of duels reviewed by legal bodies, such as the US House of Representatives, and an overview of challenges and duels within English law. These are worth reading for a full contextual understanding of the events listed in the body of the text, from the point of view of the time it was published in 1855.
While the content of any one entry may be quite limited, this resource should be considered a starting point for all researchers and all listed individuals.
Utilise the newspaper collection to explore further, as most events in the material are within the active coverage of dates. Events outside of Great Britain should also be searched across the Findmypast newspaper content, as the story would have been notable and likely covered in various English-printed papers.
For example, the Hamilton-Burr duel was extensively covered, including this detailed description from the Saint Jame’s Chronicle, published 18 Aug 1804, page 2. The paper notes, “We conceive it proper to add, that the conduct of the parties in this interview was perfectly proper and suited to the occasion.” They also publish a copy of General Hamilton’s will in full.
When utilising newspapers, remember to search by name but also by location, as both may result in helpful information. Those conducting one place studies or house history may be surprised to see their location of interest noted in newspapers on this topic repeatedly. This 7 Apr 1803 entry in the Morning Post describes a duel taking place at Chalk Farm, in Camden. The participants are only identified as “a tall handsome Scotsman, a Colonel in the Guards,” and a “Col. M----, of the Guards.”
Research should include all available death and burial records, and acquisition of a death certificate should be obtained whenever possible to confirm date, place and cause of death, which may or may not indicate a duel event.