Dueling

Dueling was a savage practice requiring, as a matter of honor, a man to fight to the death anyone who challenged him. The challenge to a duel would typically arise from a perceived injury to one’s reputation, business, or personal life. An insult to one’s girlfriend or wife was also a common spark for dueling.

By tradition the person challenged to a duel had the choice of weapons, most commonly pistols but alternatively swords.

Although dueling was strictly prohibited by the Catholic Church, it was common elsewhere in Europe and the United States until around the time of the American Civil War. Prosecutions for murder of persons victorious in duels is credited with ending the practice.

Participants in duels include:

• Alexander Hamilton, who refused to shoot and was killed by Aaron Burr
• Alexander Hamilton’s son.
• Andrew Jackson, who won several duels by killing his opponents.
• Abraham Lincoln, who selected swords as the weapon and deliberately fought to a draw.
• Evariste Galois, a brilliant mathematician killed at age 20 in his duel
• Stonewall Jackson refused to duel a military academy student who challenged him