June 18, 1621

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1621 the first duel was fought in America between Edward Doty and Edward Lester. It was believed that they both wanted the nickname of Big Ed and had fallen into an argument over who owned the coveted nom de plume. Edward Doty claimed it was his because he was 1/8 of an inch taller than Edward Lester, who swore he had the best claim to the title because he was 4 ounces heavier. As so often happens, insults were exchanged, such as “Fatty”, “Lard-butt”, “Pip-Squeak”, and “Tiny”. A duel was fought with sabers that day and both men suffered minor injuries. As punishment, Governor Bradford (who went by the name of Big Ed) had both men tied together for a day without food and water and stated that they would thereafter be known as Ed and Eddie. Edward Doty and Edward Lester immediately began arguing over who’d be called Ed and who’d get the less desirable Eddie.

About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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