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- Billy the Kid. Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney or Henry McCarty, was a famed American Old West outlaw and gunfighter. He was born in New York City in 1859, and his family relocated to Kansas before settling in New Mexico Territory, where his mother died of tuberculosis when he was 14 years old.
- Buffalo Bill. William “Buffalo Bill” Cody (1846-1917) was an American frontiersman, soldier, and showman who played a role in the opening of the American West.
- Jesse James. Jesse James (1847-1882) was an American criminal and gang leader most known in the American West for his bank, stagecoach, and train robberies.
- Butch Cassidy. Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) was an American bandit and the leader of the Wild Bunch gang, who conducted a number of bank and railway robberies in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the American West.
- Henry Mccarty “Billy The Kid”
- Pat Garrett
- Robert Leroy Parker “Butch Cassidy”
- Jesse James
- James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok
- William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody
- John Henry “Doc” Holliday
- Bartholemew “Bat” Masterson
- Wyatt Earp
- John “The Duke” Wayne
Possibly the most famous outlaw of the Wild West is Billy the Kid. Once a deadly gunfighter, Billy the Kid outwitted and killed eight men before the age of 21. An orphan at age 15, arrested the first time at 16, he fled to Arizona as an outlawed fugitive. Following the murder of a blacksmith, Billy the Kid returned to New Mexico to join a band of c...
Pat Garrett was a bartender, customs agent, and most notably a tenacious Wild West sheriff. Raised on a plantation in Louisiana, Garrett’s family lost everything in the American Civil War. When Garrett killed his first man, a fellow Buffalo Hunter called Joe Briscoe, he promptly turned himself in. The authorities, however, declined to prosecute. Ga...
Butch Cassidy was a famous American train and bank robber and leader of the “Wild Bunch Gang”. Growing up as a cowboy in Colorado, Butch Cassidy fled his home and found work on various ranches. While working on a dairy farm, he met cattle thief Mike Cassidy, who introduced him to a life of crime. Butch robbed his first bank in Telluride, Colorado i...
Jesse James was a brutal Old West outlaw, bank and train robber, guerilla, and leader of the “James-Younger Gang”. As a teenager, James joined a group of pro-Confederate guerillas known as “The Bushwackers”. Throughout the American Civil War, James and the Bushwackers traveled across Missouri and Kansas in a violent and bloody crime spree. After th...
Wild Bill Hickok is a popular folk hero and gunslinger of the Old West. Wild Bill started his adventures as a stagecoach driver and lawman in Nebraska and Kansas. His service as a Union soldier in the American Civil War gained Hickok publicity as a scout. It was during the war that he first met William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Together, they would go o...
Buffalo Bill is no doubt an iconic figure of the Wild West. An American soldier, bison hunter, and showman, he was the founder of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Bill started out as a Pony Express Rider on the American frontier. Later, he fought as a Union soldier in the American Civil War. During the Indian Wars, Buffalo Bill received a Medal of Ho...
Doc Holliday was a gunfighter, gambler, and dentist in the Wild West best known for his role in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He was a close associate of lawman Wyatt Earp, who also took part in the famous gunfight. Holliday was an educated man with a degree in dentistry, which gave him the nickname “Doc”. Shortly after setting up his practice i...
Bat Masterson rose to fame in the Old West as a gunslinger, buffalo hunter, and sheriff of Dodge City, Kansas. As sheriff, Masterson was involved in several notable shootouts. Unfortunately, one of them ended badly with his brother being shot and killed in the line of duty at Masterson’s side. Sheriff Masterson captured many notorious train robbers...
Wyatt Earp was a lawman and gambler in Arizona and a central figure of the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Earp earned his reputation as a prominent lawman in Kansas, but he soon relocated to Dodge City. It was there that Wyatt befriended several of his future allies, including Doc Holliday. For five months, a vicious and deadly conflict that raged be...
Although John Wayne was not a real Wild West cowboy, his work portraying the archetype is what earned him a special place on this list. His leading roles in many of America’s Western movies brought the nation’s frontier heritage to life. The way we think of Wild West cowboys today was greatly influenced by his acting. During his career as an actor,...
- Bill Pickett (1870-1932) Bill Pickett was an African American cowboy who made significant contributions to the rodeo world and the cattle industry. He was the star of the 101 Ranch Wild West show, where he invented “bulldogging,” a method for wrestling a bull to the ground by twisting its neck and biting its lip.
- Wild Bill Hickok (1837-1876) Wild Bill Hickok is synonymous with the Wild West. Known for his fearless demeanor, Hickok became a legendary figure during the frontier era.
- Billy the Kid (1859-1881) Born Henry McCarty, this outlaw gained notoriety for his involvement in the Lincoln County War and his exploits as a gunslinger.
- Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) Wyatt Earp is most famous for his role in the gunfight at O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881. At the time, he was serving as sheriff of the town and tried to enforce an ordinance prohibiting cowboys from concealing and carrying firearms.
Dec 28, 2023 · While some were notorious for their activities, others gained fame for their wit, humor, and bravery - a testament to the diversity of these famous cowboys. Enjoy this exploration of history's most celebrated cowboys, each leaving distinct hoofprints in the sands of time.
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Jun 8, 2024 · The rugged landscape, the lawlessness, horseback riding, and of course, the cowboys and outlaws who ruled the land, have captivated audiences for decades. But who were these legendary figures? And what made them so famous? In this article, we will take a closer look at 34 of the most famous cowboys and outlaws who left their mark on the Wild ...
May 17, 2024 · Everyone who loves old westerns knows about Clint Eastwood, James Dean, and John Wayne. But real-life cowboys are often more fascinating than these Hollywood stars. For one thing, they weren’t all blonde, rugged, or Caucasian. And there were some cowgirls in there too.
The Wild West, a period of American history shrouded in myth and legend, gave rise to some of the most iconic and enduring figures of the American frontier. Among them were the famous cowboys, rugged individuals who became symbols of adventure, rebellion, and the untamed American spirit.
