Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun of Okehampton facts for kids
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (c. 1675 – 15 November 1712) was an English politician best known for his frequent participation in duels. He was killed in the Hamilton–Mohun Duel in Hyde Park.
Biography
Mohun was the second child of Charles Mohun, 3rd Baron Mohun and his wife Philippa Annesley, a daughter of Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey.
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 received no education, and was forced to resort to gambling in order to support his lavish lifestyle.
Mohun married Charlotte Orby, granddaughter 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.
A gambling dispute in late 1692 resulted in his first duel, with John Kennedy, 7th Earl of Cassilis.
Mohun joined the army, where he served under Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, the uncle of his former wife. He then took his seat in the House of Lords.
In 1707, he became a member of the Kit-Cat Club, the pre-eminent Whig political and literary association of the period. Also in 1707, Mohun began building his country house, Gawsworth New Hall.
In 1712, two years after Mohun's Whig party had been heavily defeated in an election, the Duke of Hamilton gained 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's scheduled departure for France, Mohun challenged him to a duel which was fought on 15 November in Hyde Park. Both of them were mortally wounded and died at the scene.
Legacy
William Makepeace Thackeray fictionalised Mohun's duels in his novel The History of Henry Esmond.
Mohun and Hamilton suffered such horrific injuries that the government passed legislation banning the use of seconds in such duels.
Also as a result swords were replaced as the weapons of choice in duels by the pistol, which tended to result in shorter and less bloody fights.
