Charles Mohun painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun, (c. 1675 – November 15, 1712), was an English politician, however, he is best known as a duellist and a rake. His father died shortly after his birth, following a duel, and left him the family estate. The estate, however, was heavily in debt. Due to this Mohun recieved no education, and was forced to resort to gambling in order to support his lavish lifestyle. Sir Godfrey Kneller (August 8, 1646 -October 19, 1723) was an artist, court painter to several British monarchs. ... Events January 5 - The Battle of Turckeim August 10 - Building of the Royal Greenwich Observatory began November 11 - Guru Gobind Singh becomes the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... Events Treaty of Aargau signed between Catholic and Protestants. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... A duel or duel of honour is a form of armed combat in which two individuals participate. ... For the agricultural implement, see rake (tool). ...

Mohun married the grand-daughter of Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield in 1691 with the hope that this match would alleviate some of his debt. Unfortunately he received no dowry for the marriage, and the couple separated shortly thereafter. Following the separation, Mohun's behaviour became ever more licentious. A gambling dispute in late 1692 resulted in his first duel, with John Kennedy, 7th Earl of Cassilis. But Mohun is best remembered for the events of December 8 of that year — a friend of Mohun's, an officer named Richard Hill, had fallen in love with the actress Anne Bracegirdle, however he faced competition from actor William Mountfort. Mohun and Hill ambushed the actor after a performance and, whilst Mohun restrained him, Hill stabbed him through the chest. Following Mountfort's death the next day, Hill fled the country, Mohun was captured and tried by the House of Lords. However, in a verdict that was widely condemned, Mohun was acquitted on February 6, 1693. Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield (c. ... The title of Earl of Macclesfield has been created twice, first in the Peerage of England in 1679 (extinct 1702) and then in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1721. ... Events March 5 - French troops under Marshal Louis-Francois de Boufflers besiege the Spanish-held town of Mons March 29 - Siege of Mons ends to the city’s surrender Treaty of Limerick penalizes public worship of catholics and Presbyterians Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Suleiman II (1687... A dowry is a gift of money or valuables given by the brides family to that of the groom to permit their marriage. ... Events February 13 - Massacre of Glencoe March 1 - The Salem witch trials begin in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony with the charging of three women with witchcraft. ... The title of Marquess of Ailsa was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1831 for Archibald Kennedy, 12th Earl of Cassilis. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Anne Bracegirdle (1663–1748) was an English actress. ... William Mountfort (c. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January 11 - Eruption of Mt. ...

Mohun joined the army shortly after his acquittal, wherein he served under Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, the uncle of his former wife, and briefly served in France. In 1697 Mohun was again tried by the Lords for murder following a duel on Leicester Square. Mohun was again acquitted, although his friend Edward Rich, 6th Earl of Warwick was found guilty of manslaughter. After this incident Mohun took his seat in the House of Lords. In 1701 he accompanied the Earl of Macclesfield on a diplomatic mission to Hanover. Following the death of Macclesfield later in the year, Mohun was left most of his estate. He went on to spend over a decade defending his inheritance from rival claimants, most famously James Douglas, 4th Duke of Hamilton. In 1707 he became a member of the Kit-Cat Club, the pre-eminent Whig political and literary association of the period. Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield (c. ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Events September 20 - The Treaty of Ryswick December 2 – St Pauls Cathedral opened in London Peter the Great travels in Europe officially incognito as artilleryman Pjotr Mikhailov Use of palanquins increases in Europe Christopher Polhem starts Swedens first technical school. ... Murder is both a legal and a moral term, that are not always coincident. ... For details on the adjacent London Underground station, see Leicester Square tube station The Centre of Leicester Square Leicester Square (pronounced Lester Square) is a pedestrian square in the West End of London, United Kingdom, lying to the west of Charing Cross Road, north of Trafalgar Square and east of... The Earl of Warwick is one of the oldest English earldoms. ... Murder is both a legal and a moral term, that are not always coincident. ... Events January 18 - Frederick I becomes King of Prussia. ... Alternate meanings: Hanover (district), Hanover (region), Hanover (state), other uses Map of Germany showing Hanover Hanover (in German: Hannover [haˈnoːfɐ]), on the Leine river, is the capital of the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) in Germany. ... James Douglas, 4th Duke of Hamilton, (1658 – November 15, 1712), eldest son of William Douglas, Duke of Hamilton and of Duchess Anne, succeeded his mother, who resigned the dukedom to him in 1698. ... The Mausoleum of the Dukes of Hamilton sits in the grounds of the old Hamilton Palace in Hamilton The Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1643. ... Events March 26 - Act of Union with Scotland becomes law, making the separate Kingdoms of England and Scotland into one country, the Kingdom of Great Britain. ... The Kit-Cat Club was an early 18th-century London, England club with strong political and literary associations, committed to the furtherance of Whig objectives. ... This article is about the British Whig party. ...

In 1712, two years after Mohun's Whig party had been heavily defeated in an election, the Duke of Hamilton was given the post of special envoy to Paris. Also at this time Mohun's legal dispute with Hamilton over his inheritance of the Macclesfield estate was going badly. Shortly before Hamilton left for France Mohun challenged him to a duel, which was fought on November 15 in Hyde Park. Hamilton was killed during the fight, and Mohun died shortly afterwards from his wounds. This bloody duel was immortalised by William Makepeace Thackeray in his novel The History of Henry Esmond. The injuries suffered by the two men were so horrific that the government passed legislation banning the use of seconds in such duels. Also as a result swords passed out of favour as the weapons of choice for such contests to be replaced by the pistol, which tended to result in shorter and less bloody fights. Events Treaty of Aargau signed between Catholic and Protestants. ... This article is about the British Whig party. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... A duel or duel of honour is a form of armed combat in which two individuals participate. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... Hyde Park is the name of: Hyde Park, a Royal Park in London (the original location) Hyde Park in Sydney - a park some places in the United States of America: Hyde Park, Massachusetts Hyde Park, New York - a town in Dutchess County, New York Hyde Park, Vermont - a town Hyde... William Makepeace Thackeray (July 18, 1811 - December 24, 1863) was an English novelist of the 19th century. ...

Reference

• Andrew, Donna (1980). "The code of honour and its critics : the opposition to duelling in England, 1700-1850" in Social History 5.3.
• Stater, Victor (1999). Duke Hamilton Is Dead!: A Story of Aristocratic Life and Death in Stuart Britain London, Hill & Wang, ISBN 0809040336.