Journal Entry #9

Duelling in Upper Canada can be attributed to a number of reasons. But in most cases it results from a man feeling that his honour has been slighted. However, what is clear is that dueling at this time in Canadian history was performed by a certain type of person. These people always had three qualities, they were white, upper class, and always men. This meant that dueling during this time period helped to define what masculinity was. Unfortunately, only upper class white men decided were involved in this definition. As Cecilia Morgan states in her article “this method of settling disputes was not open to men of the lower-middle or working classes”[1] which proves how dueling was only granted to the rich, upper class man. Duels were usually started for one of two reasons. The first being the supposed slight of a man’s honour or in most cases the defense of a woman’s honour. In many ways these slights were imagined as Morgan states how honour was “both sought and protected as though it were a thing known and fixed, while at the same time it was in constant need of affirmation, being repeatedly challenged”[2]. Which goes to show how the whole idea of honour was not fully understand and therefore men dying over it was completely ridiculous. However, that did not stop men from fighting anyway. Men chose to uphold women’s honour regardless of whether or not they truly understand what honour meant. This is seen in the case of John Wilson and Robert Lyon. In Stephen Bown’s article he notes how the whole duel was started over “had sat alongside Miss Hughes with his arms about her in a position which no woman of spirit would permit.”[3] Now, Wilson was in love with Elisabeth Hughes and as a result of this so called slight to her honour he challenged Lyon to a duel. This duel led to the death of Robert Lyon and it also resulted in John Wilson being taken to court. Although Wilson was acquitted and later became a judge it does not deny the fact that the duel was fought over an absolutely ridiculous reason. However, Wilson and Hughes did go on to marry and they stay married for thirty four years. So maybe Wilson really did love Hughes enough to die for her. In Morgan’s article she wraps up by stating how masculinity ended up abolishing duels as well. She says that it was strongly discouraged by society because of it leading to the widowing of wives and left families economically destitute. She says that “the ‘phantom’ of honour was less important than men’s responsibilities towards financially dependent wives, children, mothers, and sisters”[4]. What this shows is how Canada’s ideals of what masculinity is began to shift towards more modern ideas of what it means to be a man. In conclusion, dueling in Upper Canada was controlled entirely by upper class, white men. Although it was defined by an idea to uphold men’s honour and women’s virtue, what ended up happening was needless death and violence. So as a result of this many men and women fought for it to be outlawed in order for the respectable family unit to be maintained. As a result of this fight Upper Canada moved towards a much more modern idea of masculinity and the nuclear family.

 

Bibliography

Cecilia Morgan, “In Search of the Phantom Misnamed Honour: Duelling in Upper Canada,” The Canadian                 Historical Review 76 (1995): 1-35.

Stephen Bown, “Pistols at Six O’Clock,” Beaver 79 (1999): 1-7.

 

[1] Cecilia Morgan, “In Search of the Phantom Misnamed Honour: Duelling in Upper Canada,” The Canadian Historical Review 76 (1995): 24.

[2] Morgan, “In Search,” 25.

[3] Stephen Bown, “Pistols at Six O’Clock,” Beaver 79 (1999): 3.

[4] Morgan, “In Search,” 35.