Augustus Albert Allen
Cadet at United States Military Academy at West Point and a Mississippi state legislator who was killed in a duel with Alexander Keith McClung in 1834
About Augustus Albert Allen
Augustus Albert Allen was an American politician, lawyer and military personnel.
Augustus Albert Allen (–July 14, 1834), also known as Gen. A. A. Allen and "Baron Allen," was an American lawyer and politician. Originally from Virginia, he was at one time a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He settled in Mississippi in the 1830s and worked as a lawyer, banker, and land dealer. He was elected to the state legislature from Hinds County in 1833. He was killed in a duel with Alexander Keith McClung in 1834.
Life and career Allen was born around 1810. He was said to be from Virginia. He entered West Point on July 1, 1828, at age 17, and was ranked 59 of 59 in his class that year, with 11 listed below him as either "found deficient" or "sick absent". He was in the same class as George B. Crittenden, George Washington Cass, and Philip St. George Cocke. He did not graduate from the academy. He was on the board of directors of a Jackson bank in July 1833. In 1833 he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from Hinds County.
In January 1834 Allen's primary occupation was lawyer. In June 1834, along with Isaac Caldwell (killed in an 1836 duel) and others, Allen was investigating public land sales at the Chocchuma land office. In July 1834, Kentucky-born lawyer Alexander Keith McClung shot Allen in the mouth from . McClung's shot amputated Allen's tongue and smashed "several teeth...leaving a horrific wound from which he died in great agony." McClung's shot "set a record for a death by smoothbore pistol at roughly 100 paces." As many as 3,000 people, including 150 state legislators, were present at the Jackson dueling grounds to witness this event.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Augustus Albert Allen?
cadet at United States Military Academy at West Point and a Mississippi state legislator who was killed in a duel with Alexander Keith McClung in 1834
When did Augustus Albert Allen die?
Augustus Albert Allen died on 14 July 1834.
What was Augustus Albert Allen's occupation?
Augustus Albert Allen was a politician, lawyer and military personnel.
What nationality was Augustus Albert Allen?
Augustus Albert Allen was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Augustus Albert Allen
· DBpedia: Augustus Albert Allen
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Augustus Albert Allen. https://biography.guide/augustus-albert-allen/
MLA: "Augustus Albert Allen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/augustus-albert-allen/.
Chicago: "Augustus Albert Allen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/augustus-albert-allen/.
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