Wogdon Dueling Pistols Used in the Burr–Hamilton Duel

What it is

This is a pair of flintlock dueling pistols made around 1797 by English gunsmith Robert Wogdon (Wogdon & Barton of London). They belonged to Hamilton's brother-in-law John Barker Church and are now held by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Why it matters

These pistols were used in the duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, in which Hamilton was fatally wounded. The same pair had earlier been used in the duel that killed Hamilton's own son, Philip Hamilton. They are a stark physical reminder of how disputes of honor among elite men could end in death during this period.

Look closer

• What does it mean that the same pistols were used in the deaths of both father and son?
• Why do you think dueling pistols were often finely crafted objects rather than plain tools?
• What does this artifact not tell us about the reasons behind the duel itself?