Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (c. 1675 – 15 November 1712) was an
English politician best known for his frequent participation in
duels and his reputation as a
rake.
Mohun was the second child of Charles, 3rd Baron Mohun and his wife Philippa, daughter of
Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey. His father died shortly after his birth, following a duel, and left him the family
estate. The estate, however, was heavily in debt. Due to this Mohun received no education, and was forced to resort to
gambling in order to support his lavish lifestyle.
Mohun married Charlotte Orby, granddaughter of
Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, in 1691 with the hope that this match would alleviate some of his debt. Unfortunately he received no
dowry for the marriage, and the couple separated shortly thereafter. Following the separation, Mohun's behaviour became ever more licentious. A gambling dispute in late 1692 resulted in his first duel, with
John Kennedy, 7th Earl of Cassilis. But Mohun is best remembered for the events of 9 December of that year—a friend of Mohun's, an officer named Richard Hill, had fallen in love with the actress
Anne Bracegirdle; however he thought himself, almost certainly erroneously, to face competition from actor
William Mountfort. Mohun and Hill ambushed the actor after a performance and, whilst Mohun restrained him—or by some eyewitness accounts stood by...
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