On this day in 1806, 2 attorneys in Nashville rode from their homes to Kentucky where dueling was legal and settled their differences with pistols. On this day, Andrew Jackson emerged the victor in a duel with Charles Dickinson who had supposedly printed libelous statements that Jackson’s wife, Rachel, was a bigamist. It seems that defending her honor was at the root of most of the 13 different duels that Andrew Jackson won. Though he earned a reputation as a hothead, he went on to serve 2 terms as President of the United States. He maintained that he was just playing by the rules.
So, today we give thanks for a justice system that has evolved!
(Photo credit: www.dailypress.com)