author

Davy Crockett

1786–1836

A larger-than-life frontiersman, hunter, and politician, he became one of the best-known folk heroes of early America. His own plainspoken storytelling and dramatic death at the Alamo turned a real public figure into a lasting legend.

1 Audiobook

A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee.

A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee.

by Davy Crockett

About the author

Born in eastern Tennessee in 1786, Davy Crockett grew up on the American frontier and built a reputation as a hunter, scout, and storyteller. He served in the Tennessee militia during the Creek War and later entered politics, first in the Tennessee legislature and then in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Crockett became widely known for his homespun style and his willingness to stand apart from powerful figures, including President Andrew Jackson on some issues. After losing his seat in Congress, he headed to Texas in the mid-1830s, where he joined the defenders of the Alamo.

He died there in 1836 during the Battle of the Alamo, and his fame only grew afterward. Memoirs, tall tales, stage works, and later films helped turn him into one of the most enduring characters in American history, balancing the real man with the myth that followed him.