Friday, March 22, 2013

Booty: Remembering the Decatur vs. Barron Duel

March 22, 1820: After years of bad blood between the two, U.S. Navy captains Stephen Decatur and James Barron meet to settle their honor with a duel. While the hows and whys of the actual duel continue to be disputed by historians, the facts are clear. After Decatur shot first, wounding Barron in the hip, Barron shot Decatur in the lower abdomen. With his bowel punctured, Decatur would linger two days at his Lafayette Square home in Washington D.C. crying out in abject pain.

For more on the details of this unfortunate moment in American naval history, see this post on James Barron.

Header: Miniature of Stephen Decatur and the plaque now attached to the home where he died via The Decatur Minute
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3 comments:

  1. IrwinMarch 23, 2013 at 12:18 AM

    His death made a huge impact at the time as he was revered in America like Nelson was in England. Had he lived he could have even been President some day.

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  2. Timmy!March 23, 2013 at 1:42 AM

    Sucks to be you, Commodore Decatur...

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  3. PaulineMarch 23, 2013 at 4:12 PM

    Irwin: Absolutely; very well said.

    Timmy! Maybe he shouldn't have badgered Barron so incessantly. Hind sight is 20/20 though, isn't it?

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