That Time an American President Killed a Man in Cold Blood and Got Away With It Scot Free | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Andrew Jackson dueled and killed Charles Dickinson after a series of insults, and later survived an assassination attempt by Richard Lawrence.

Key Insights

• 🤵 Andrew Jackson dueled and killed Charles Dickinson after insults about his wife's previous marriage.
• 🥡 Dueling was illegal in Tennessee, so the duel took place in Kentucky.
• 🇬🇧 Jackson survived an assassination attempt by Richard Lawrence, who believed he was King Richard III.
• 🫒 Jackson's wife, Rachel, lived for six years after his death, despite predictions otherwise.
• ❓ Jackson was the first known U.S. president to survive an assassination attempt.
• ❓ Presidents James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy were assassinated.
• 🎲 Garfield died due to infection, McKinley from complications of a gunshot wound, and JFK from a gunshot.
• 🫵 Jackson's presidency left a controversial legacy, with views on his actions and policies varying widely.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Andrew Jackson duel Charles Dickinson?

Andrew Jackson dueled Charles Dickinson after a dispute over a horse race bet and a series of insults. Dickinson insulted Jackson's wife, leading to the confrontation.

Q: How did the duel between Jackson and Dickinson end?

Jackson conceded the first shot to Dickinson, who hit Jackson in the chest. However, Jackson, despite his injuries, managed to shoot Dickinson, fatally striking him.

Q: Who attempted to assassinate Andrew Jackson?

Richard Lawrence, who believed himself to be King Richard III of England, attempted to assassinate Andrew Jackson in 1835 but failed.

Q: What was the outcome of the assassination attempt on Andrew Jackson?

Richard Lawrence's assassination attempt on Andrew Jackson failed. Jackson fought back, and Lawrence was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent the rest of his life in asylums.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• On May 30, 1806, Andrew Jackson dueled and killed Charles Dickinson after a dispute over a horse race bet.

• Jackson's wife had a previous marriage that was not officially divorced, leading to insults from Dickinson.

• Jackson survived an assassination attempt in 1835 by Richard Lawrence, who believed himself to be King Richard III of England.