Wellington–Winchilsea duel

It was a bloodless duel fought between the British Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea.

He attacked the Duke verbally and accused him in a letter to The Standard on 14 March 1829 of "an insidious design for the infringement of our liberties and the introduction of Popery into every department of the State".

[1][5][6] Wellington wrote to him demanding a formal apology but Winchilsea, while privately admitting he had gone too far, felt he could not back down without losing his honour.

[8] John Robert Hume, the military surgeon who had served with Wellington in the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo, was in attendance.

The Morning Post, for example, talked of the potential loss of the "first warrior of England", saying it was "too monstrous" that Wellington should risk his life "in compliance with this social superstition.

"[14] However, Wellington's reputation was enhanced, and he was seen to have outflanked his political opponents by impressing public opinion and stopping slanders undermining his government.

In 1834, Wellington even specifically came up to London from his country estate to witness Winchilsea's second wedding to his own great niece, Emily Bagot (daughter of Lady Anne Wellesley).