I& #39;ve been reminded the duel between Ld Castlereagh and George Canning took place #OnThisDay 1809. It& #39;s one of my favourite things to bring up when people ask me why I love political #history so much *clasps hands* (image Brit. http://Mus.CC"> http://Mus.CC  Lic. https://bit.ly/3iSX7OW )">https://bit.ly/3iSX7OW&q...

Castlereagh was Secretary of State for War; Canning Foreign Secretary, and had been plotting against Castlereagh for months. Cas challenged Canning and pinked his rival in the, ahem, upper thigh, as can be seen in this image (from the British Museum: https://bit.ly/33MGXjB ).">https://bit.ly/33MGXjB&q...

Canning was light-hearted, writing from his sofa (presumably lying on his front), & #39;You can hardly conceive how slight a matter it is ... if you have a mind to try the experiment [of getting shot in the, um, thigh], I would recommend Ld Castlereagh as the operator& #39; (pic wikipedia)

Castlereagh was more blunt, telling Canning before the duel & #39;It was ... your act, and your conduct, which deceived me, and it is impossible for me to acquiesce in being placed in a situation by you which no man of honour could knowingly submit to& #39; (pic wikipedia)