Edward Laight Heyward (1816-1847)

Edward L. Heyward, of New York City & Sullivan's Island, South Carolina

In 1841, at William Niblo's Saloon, "then the resort of the fashionable fast set" on Broadway, he fought a duel with the celebrated financier August Belmont after becoming jealous of the attentions being shown to him by a lady. He publicly insulted the lady and when Belmont remonstrated with him, he struck Belmont who then promptly challenged him to a duel. Heyward was unscathed but Belmont was shot in the thigh and for the rest of his life he required a cane to walk. The diarist Phillip Hone described Edward as, "one of the exquisite sons of William Heyward of New York City".
Contributed by Mark Meredith on 03/06/2021 and last updated on 03/06/2021.