author
Davy Crockett
1786–1836
A hunter, soldier, storyteller, and congressman, he helped turn the rough edges of frontier life into American legend. His dramatic death at the Alamo made him famous far beyond Tennessee, but his real life was already full of adventure and political grit.
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About the author
Born in eastern Tennessee in 1786, Davy Crockett grew up in a large family and spent much of his youth working, traveling, and learning to survive on the frontier. He became known as a skilled hunter and an entertaining storyteller, qualities that helped build the larger-than-life reputation that followed him for the rest of his life.
Crockett served in the Tennessee militia and later entered politics, first in the state legislature and then in the U.S. House of Representatives. He earned attention for speaking in a plain, direct style and for standing apart from President Andrew Jackson on some issues, including the treatment of Native Americans.
After losing his final bid for Congress, he went to Texas, where he joined the defenders of the Alamo. He died there in March 1836, and his last stand helped transform him from a well-known frontiersman and politician into one of the most enduring folk heroes in American history.