Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun of Okehampton facts for kids
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (born around 1675 – died 15 November 1712) was an English politician. He was well-known for taking part in many duels. A duel was a formal fight between two people, usually with weapons, to settle a disagreement. Lord Mohun died in a famous duel in Hyde Park.
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Who Was Charles Mohun?
Charles Mohun was born around 1675. His father, Charles Mohun, 3rd Baron Mohun, died shortly after Charles was born. His father also died in a duel, which was a sad start to young Charles's life.
Early Life and Challenges
When Charles Mohun's father died, he inherited the family's land and property. However, the family had a lot of debt. This meant Charles did not get a formal education. To support his lifestyle, he often tried to win money through games.
In 1691, Charles Mohun married Charlotte Orby. She was the granddaughter of a powerful man, Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield. Charles hoped this marriage would help him with his debts. But he did not receive any money from the marriage, and the couple soon separated.
Life in Public Service
In 1692, Charles Mohun had his first duel because of a disagreement over money. Later, he joined the army and served under Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield. This man was the uncle of his former wife.
After his time in the army, Charles Mohun became a member of the House of Lords. This was an important part of the English government. In 1707, he joined the Kit-Cat Club. This was a group of important politicians and writers who belonged to the Whig political party. Also in 1707, Lord Mohun started building his country home, called Gawsworth New Hall.
The Final Duel
In 1712, the Whig party, which Lord Mohun belonged to, lost an election. Around the same time, Lord Mohun was having a difficult legal disagreement with the Duke of Hamilton. They were arguing over who should inherit some land from the Macclesfield family.
Just before the Duke of Hamilton was set to travel to Paris, Lord Mohun challenged him to a duel. This duel took place on 15 November 1712 in Hyde Park. Both Lord Mohun and the Duke of Hamilton were badly hurt and died at the scene.
What Was His Legacy?
Charles Mohun's duels were so well-known that a famous writer, William Makepeace Thackeray, wrote about them. He included fictional versions of Mohun's duels in his novel The History of Henry Esmond.
The duel between Mohun and Hamilton was very serious. Both men suffered terrible injuries. Because of this, the government made new rules. They passed a law that made it illegal for "seconds" to be involved in duels. Seconds were friends or helpers who stood by the duelists.
Also, after this duel, people started using pistols instead of swords in duels. Pistols usually led to quicker fights that were less bloody.
Images for kids
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Lord Mohun, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1707
