The future seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, killed Charles Dickinson in a duel on May 30, 1806. The duel arose from a horse racing bet and an ensuing insult to Jackson’s wife. Jackson, who received a bullet near his heart, managed to stay standing long enough to kill Dickinson with his return fire. This event is often cited to illustrate Jackson’s fiery temper and the brutal code of honor that dictated much of the political and social life in early America.
