Good work Chris,
On 27 May, 1798, at the height of the war between Britain and revolutionary France, Prime Minster William Pitt fought a duel on Putney Common, London, against George Tierney, Member of Parliament, Treasurer of the Navy, President of the Board of Control, and Master of the Mint. The duel arose from a statement in Parliament made by Pitt which Tierney interpreted as a comment on his personal courage and ‘a desire to obstruct the defence of the country’.
The duel took place on a Sunday which generated much criticism against Pitt. Both parties fired and missed. It was observed at the time that it was slightly unequal as Pitt was a very thin man while Tierney was very fat, thus making him the larger target. Satisfaction met on both sides, the two men withdrew.
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I can't imagine Gordon Brown on the Common, with a pair of duelling pistols though?
Daz
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