Who of the Founding Fathers had a duel?

Answer 1

Vice-President Aaron Burr and former US Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who were bitter political rivals, had a duel in Weehawken, NJ, on July 11, 1804. Burr challenged Hamilton to the duel because Hamilton gossiped about Burr at a party and implied the Vice-President made critical comments about another politician. The two men exchanged several letters in which Burr demanded an apology and Hamilton pretended innocence, infuriating Burr. By the time the final incident occurred, Hamilton had been sabotaging Burr's personal and political career for years.

Dueling was recently outlawed in New York State, so the men rowed across the Hudson River and faced each other on a secluded strip of ground just inside the New Jersey border.

Hamilton fired first, deliberately missing Burr; the bullet lodged in a tree limb approximately fourteen feet above Burr's head. Burr aimed his return shot directly at Hamilton. Some historians speculate Burr's intention was only to wound Hamilton in the leg or hip, a common means of winning a duel without killing one's opponent. Unfortunately, the bullet entered Hamilton's abdomen, ricocheted off his ribs, damaged his internal organs, and finally lodged in his spine, immediately rendering him paralyzed from the waist down.

Hamilton's doctor was in attendance, and later testified Hamilton knew he'd been mortally wounded. The Founding Father died the next day, July 12, 1804.

Aaron Burr was subsequently charged with murder in both New York and New Jersey, but was never brought to trial. The incident ended his political career, however.