STEPHEN DECATUR AND THE DUEL
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When Stephen and Susan Decatur took residence in their newly-constructed home on Lafayette Square in 1818, they were at the height of their fame and fortune. While the couple enjoyed their celebrity status in Washington, however, they did not remain free of conflict. Controversy erupted involving one of Decatur's long-time colleagues, Commodore James Barron. The elder naval officer had been the subject of scandal in 1807 when he commanded the frigate Chesapeake and failed to prepare it for battle against the British warship, HMS Leopard – a disgraceful defeat which led to his court martial in 1808, a trial on which Decatur sat on. Although Decatur and Barron had been friends, Decatur agreed to a verdict that expelled Barron from the Navy for five years. This event began the thirteen year dispute that would end on the dueling grounds.

Barron traveled abroad during his expulsion from the Navy, and remained overseas during the entire duration of the War of 1812. Upon Barron's return to the United States in December 1818, Decatur challenged this absence, interpreting it as Barron’s unwillingness to help his country at a time of utmost need. Barron countered that financial hardship prevented him from returning home. Over the next four years, the two men exchanged frequent letters, and never wavered from their respective opinions. Eventually, the dispute escalated into a fatal battle of honor.

Although dueling was illegal in the city of Washington, it was not uncommon for its residents to challenge one another. After many months of discussing the possibility, Barron and Decatur agreed to defend their honor using this time-honored practice. On March 22, 1820, Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron met on the dueling ground in Bladensburg, Maryland. The shots struck both men, but Decatur was mortally wounded. He was brought back to his home on Lafayette Square and died several hours later, to the great shock of the city and the nation.