In 1772 Richard Sheridan fought a famous duel against Captain Thomas Mathews. Mathews had written a newspaper article defaming the character of Elizabeth Linley, the woman Sheridan intended to marry,and honour dictated that a duel must be fought. ❖ In 1772 Richard Sheridan fought a famous duel against Captain Thomas Mathews. ❖ Mathews had written a newspaper article defaming the character of Elizabeth Linley, the woman Sheridan intended to marry, and honour dictated that a duel must be fought