US President Andrew Jackson married his wife, Rachel, after her first husband left her to get a divorce. Two years later, Colonel Lewis Robards returned—never having obtained the divorce. Rachel had to quickly divorce Robards and then legally marry Jackson.
This little ‘scandal’ remained a sensitive point for Andrew Jackson. He fought 103 duels—most of them to defend his wife’s honor. The only man he ever killed in a duel was Charles Dickinson, who was goaded into angering Jackson by Jackson’s political opponents. Dickinson shot Jackson in the ribs before Jackson returned the fatal shot.
Charles’s bullet was lodged so close to Jackson’s heart that it could never be removed. Jackson was wounded so often during these frequent duels that some said he “rattled like a bag of marbles.” He was in a considerable amount of pain for the rest of his life as a result of his ‘battle wounds’ and periodically coughed up blood.
To read more on Andrew Jackson’s personal life click HERE
103 duals… that’s a lot of gun fights
President Jackson was a loyal husband with a temper. He believed in principals and stood up to defend them against the power of the pen. Sounds like a way of life that worked for him.
In like manner today our president Trump is facing many duels with the press. He has taken many hits and some close to his heart, yet Trump keeps firing back.
If we do not learn from it history will continue to repeat itself.
Fire at will and cause chaos or focus on and do the next right thing.
Stephen Harris