November 9, 1827

Congressional delegate Henry Wharton Conway died from wounds he had sustained in a duel on October 29 with Territorial Secretary Robert Crittenden. The duel took place after animosities following a tumultuous campaign for Congress between Conway and Robert Oden were aggravated by supposed insults made by Conway. In the duel, which took place on the east side of the Mississippi River because dueling was illegal in Arkansas Territory, Conway’s shot grazed Crittenden’s coat, but Crittenden shot Conway in the rib, causing an injury that eventually led to his death. The Crittenden-Conway duel was just one of many between Arkansas politicians and others over the years; the practice did not end until 1863.