A mortal wound, a very severe injury (almost always a form of penetration or laceration) whether accidental or inflicted intentionally, leads directly to the death of the victim.

Alexander Hamilton played a key role in the early formation of the American government. A man of great intelligence and ambition, he served on Washington’s Revolutionary War staff from 1777-1781. Hamilton received a mortal wound from Burr’s pistol shot, and died in New York City the next day in 12 July 1804