Uploaded February 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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In honor of Abraham Lincoln's 208th birthday, today's episode will focus on a story about Lincoln that's not all that well known.

In 1842, a young Lincoln nearly engaged in a duel with swords against James Shields, the Illinois state auditor. Find out why the duel was issued, why swords were used, and what the final result was!

Read more about the duel:
mentalfloss.com/article/12382/time-abraham-lincoln-and-political-rival-almost-dueled-island
civilwar.org/education/history/lincoln-hub/abraham-lincolns-duel.html?referrer=https://www.google.com
io9.gizmodo.com/5945550/abraham-lincoln-once-nearly-dueled-a-rival-with-a-broadsword

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