Famous Fencing People In History;)

Today is Famous History Day in my blog, so here are some facts about a few historical fencers. For starters, many early presidents took up the sword, including those depicted on Mount Rushmore. Benito Mussolini, one of the three dictators during World War II, was an expert fencer. After World War I, Helene Mayer, a German athlete, won the Gold Medal for fencing in the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Some people know that in the time of our earliest presidents, having a sword was very common among men. George Washington, having gained his fame from the Revolutionary War, learned to fence from members of his family. He was taught by his father, brothers, and friends, who each had an interesting way of using a blade. His grandfather used his blade during war and his father wielded a cutlass(dagger) on a ship. His brother was taught by a fencing master at his boarding school. All this experience in his family made Washington a good fencer.

There is not much known about Thomas Jefferson and fencing. He fenced with a short sword. Some pictures show him fencing against Marquis de Lafayette and the Earl of Carlisle.

Abraham Lincoln had to learn how to fence in the tense times he lived in(around the Civil War). His largest fencing battle won him honor and his wife,Mary Todd. He wrote nasty things about a fellow politician in a newspaper. This politician set out to find Lincoln, who was in another town on financial buisness. Wanting honor,the politician challenged Lincoln to a duel. But with Lincoln at a height of six foot five versus five foot nine, the politician did not stand a chance. But before the fight could begin an associate from each man sent by Mary Todd ended the fight and each apologized.



During World War II there were three dictators controlling the war. Hitler from Germany, Tojo from Japan, and Moussolini from Italy. On a typical day Moussolini got up, ate breakfast, and then began to fence. He fenced with a saber and a style that was totally personal, full of clever tricks, fast and sudden counterattacks,and hits so unexpected they defied logic.

After World War One Germany was not invited to the next two Olympic games. Finally they were invited to the 1928 games. Helene Mayer knew that what her country needed the most was a morale boost and she knew just how to get it. Helene went on to win the Gold Medal for fencing, which was Germany's first Olympic fencing title. Having won her country's title at fourteen sha was already a celebrity.

More historical facts will come in my next blog entry.