Yesterday evening a duel of most serious consequences took place at Chalk Farm. About six o’clock two Gentlemen alighted from two hackney coaches, at Chalk Farm, and walked into an adjoining field, each followed by a servant with a small box. These contained pistols. The parties took their ground, at about twelve paces distance, and both fired together. At the first fire one fell, and the other was wounded in the belly, supposed mortally; but he was able to walk off the field, and go away in his hackney coach. He who fell is a tall handsome Scotsman, a Colonel in the Guards. He was carried into Chalk-Farm House. His name we could not learn. The other is Col. M—, of the Guards, as we understand; but we must be excused from mentioning names, or further particulars, till we are more accurately informed.
The Morning Post, 7 April 1803
“He who fell” was Colonel Montgomery, who had taken a bullet in the right side of his chest, which according to later reports probably went immediately into his heart. After he was hit the ground Montgomery rolled over two or three times and groaned. While being carried to Chalk Farm House he attempted to speak but
the blood choaked him. His mouth foamed much and in about five minutes after he was brought into the house, he expired, with a gentle sigh.
Both seconds immediately absconded.
The other duellist was Captain Macnamara, who took a bullet just above his right hip. It exited on his left side. He was visited on his sickbed by Lord Nelson and other Naval and Military officers.1
Why did they fire guns at each other? They had had an argument in Hyde Park about their dogs.
Colonel Montgomery frequently rode a beautiful white Arabian, followed by a favourite Newfoundland dog. One of his horses being ill, the Colonel was not on Wednesday attended by his servant. Captain Macnamara was also on horseback, followed by a dog. The two dogs quarrelled near the Serpentine River, on the grass, between the ride and the water. Colonel Montgomery got off his horse to separate them; they were tumbling over each other, and Captain Macnamara’s being uppermost, having the best of the battle, the other being a young dog, Colonel Montgomery went up to separate them; saying- “Come off, or I’ll knock your brains out,” By this time, Captain Macnamara had alighted, and coming up said— “If you do, I’ll knock your brains out,” —Col. M. answered, that was not language for a gentleman. Very high and warm words arose; and a number of gentlemen came around: the parties exchanged addresses.
James Macnamara, aged 36, born in County Claire, Ireland, was described as a “bold, active man,” “rather stout, and of good figure. His complexion is dark, his features marked and expressive, manly, and at the same time handsome… elegant and prepossessing, and he had very much the air of a man of fashion.” He had served in the Royal Navy in the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars.
Montgomery (“a handsome, genteel man…inoffensive, extremely good-natured, and an agreeable companion”) was only 28, a veteran of the Dutch Expedition during which he showed considerable bravery and a friend of the Prince of Wales, who was “extremely affected” by his death. He was known as the Birmingham Hamilton for his habit of dressing like the Duke of Hamilton.2
Macnamara was arrested but allowed to remain in his apartments at Blake’s Hotel in Jermyn Street with John Townsend, a Bow Street officer in attendance.3
An inquest was held at the Southampton Arms in the Hampstead Road. The verdict: manslaughter.
On 22 April Macnamara was taken from his hotel to the Old Bailey to Newgate to await his trial later that day. Lord Nelson sat on the Bench and Lord Hood in the Ordinary’s box during the proceedings.4
His friends gave evidence that he was not quarrelsome and, having received the challenge, was obliged to meet it. The jury deliberated for ten minutes and came back with a verdict: not guilty.
POSTSCRIPT
After the trial Macnamara returned to service and served in the Napoleonic Wars, reaching the rank of Rear-Admiral. In 1818 he married Henrietta Carleton, a widow, and died in 1826, aged 57, in Clifton, Bristol.5
- Bury and Norwich Post, 13 April 1803.
- Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton.
- Morning Post, 8 April 1803.
- Morning Post, 23 April 1803 and Old Bailey online.
- John Marshall, Royal Navy Biography. London, 1823, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, Paternoster Row.
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