27 Sep 1851 - last known official duel in NSW

#OnThisDay 27 September 1851 the last known official duel in NSW was fought between Sir Thomas Mitchell and Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson. Mitchell was the Surveyor General and a well-known explorer of NSW and Victoria. Donaldson was a well-known settler of the New England region and was later elected to the Legislative Council and became Premier of NSW in 1856. 

It was while campaigning for re-election that Donaldson and Mitchell exchanged words and Mitchell demanded a duel. Both men fired three shots each, with Mitchell's last shot reportedly blowing off Donaldson's hat. There are numerous references to both men in the Colonial Secretary's Papers.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald. (1851). The late duel; Baker, D. (1967). Mitchell, Sir Thomas Livingstone (1792-1855). Australian Dictionary of Biography; Draper, S. (1972). Donaldson, Sir Stuart Alexander (1812-1867). Australian Dictionary of Biography

Related

• Read the Sydney Morning Herald article on Trove (dated 30 Septeber 1851)
  
• See more about the Surveyor General (Agency 1773) in the catalogue
• See more about the Donaldson Ministry (Ministry 1) in the catalogue
• Australian Dictionary of Biography entries for Sir Thomas Mitchell and Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson