NAME David "Davy" Crockett
WHAT FAMOUS FOR American frontiersman, soldier, and politician known as the "King of the Wild Frontier." Renowned for his wilderness skills, sharp wit, and bravery, he became a folk hero in American culture.
BIRTH Born on August 17, 1786, in Greene County, within the short-lived state of Franklin (later incorporated into Tennessee).
FAMILY BACKGROUND Davy was the fifth of nine children born to John and Rebecca Crockett, subsistence farmers of Scotch-Irish descent. His family faced financial hardships and moved frequently.
CHILDHOOD Crockett's early life was marked by financial hardship and frequent moves. His family relocated several times in search of economic stability. At the tender age of twelve, he was indentured to Jacob Siler to help alleviate the family's debt burden. This experience exposed him to the harsh realities of frontier life, as he worked as a cowboy on a grueling 400-mile cattle drive to Virginia.
At the age of 13, Crockett attacked a school bully and, fearing his father's punishment, ran away. He spent two and a half years traveling through Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, learning essential woodsman skills. When he returned home, his family barely recognized him.
EDUCATION Crockett's formal education was extremely limited. He received only about one hundred days of tutoring from a neighbor and briefly attended school before leaving due to an altercation with a bully.
His early years on the frontier provided him with practical knowledge of survival, hunting, and storytelling, which later defined his persona.
CAREER RECORD As a teenager, to support his family and gain independence, Crockett took on various jobs. He herded cattle and worked as a cowboy for Jacob Siler, apprenticed as a hatter under Elijah Griffith, and labored for farmers John Gray and John Canady to repay family debts.
Crockett was a skilled hunter and trapper, spending much of his early life exploring the American frontier.
He served as a scout in the Creek War under Andrew Jackson.
Crockett later became a politician, serving in the Tennessee State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Tennessee.
Crockett fought in the Texas Revolution and died at the Battle of the Alamo.
APPEARANCE Crockett was described as an "uncommonly fine looking man" with an amiable expression and prominent, striking features. At age 15, he was nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and very strong
Portraits depict him as stocky and middle-aged, rather than resembling the tall, handsome Fess Parker who played him on television.
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| David Crockett by Chester Harding |
FASHION He typically dressed more like a gentleman than a backwoodsman.
He is famously associated with wearing a coonskin cap, though in reality, he rarely donned it, preferring practical attire suited for frontier life. Contemporary drawings show Crockett wearing a broad-brimmed felt hat, popular in the mid-19th century, rather than the iconic coonskin cap. The coonskin cap was likely a later addition to his image, first appearing in drawings after 1835.
CHARACTER Crockett was known for his courage, resilience, and sharp wit. He was a strong advocate for the common man and often spoke out against corruption and injustice. His reputation as an honest and forthright individual made him beloved among his constituents.
SENSE OF HUMOUR He had a sharp sense of humor, often weaving self-deprecating humor and tall tales into his speeches and writings. For instance, when introducing himself to his new colleagues in Congress, he reportedly said: "I am that same Davy Crockett, fresh from the back woods, half-horse, half-alligator, a little touched with the snapping turtle...I can whip my weight in wildcats...and eat any man opposed to Jackson."
RELATIONSHIPS Davy Crockett married Mary "Polly" Finley on August 16, 1806, just one day before his 20th birthday. They had three children together: John Wesley, William and Margaret. Sadly, Polly Crockett died in 1815, leaving Crockett a widower with three young children.
Davy Crockett married Elizabeth Patton in 1815, shortly after Polly's death. Elizabeth was a widow with two small children of her own. Crockett and Elizabeth had three more children together: Rebecca Elvira, Robert Patton and Matilda.
His family life was marked by frequent moves as he sought new opportunities on the frontier, balancing his roles as a husband and father with his political career and adventurous spirit
MONEY AND FAME As an adult, Crockett attempted to establish himself financially. He built businesses on Beans Creek in Franklin County, Tennessee. However, a devastating flood in 1821, just two weeks after his election to the General Assembly, destroyed all his ventures. He received some land from his father-in-law, but he was forced to sell portions of it to pay off debts.
Crockett's political career provided some financial stability. He served in the Tennessee state legislature and later in the U.S. House of Representatives. His friend Marcus Winchester financed his early political career, but despite this support, Crockett often found himself outspent by his opponents.
While not wealthy in monetary terms, Crockett's fame grew exponentially. He became renowned for his skill as a bear hunter, famously claiming to have killed 105 bears in a single season. His reputation as a frontiersman and politician made him a popular figure. Books and plays about his life, often exaggerating his exploits, were written even during his lifetime. After his death at the Alamo, his legend grew to mythical proportions.
Crockett's legend had a significant economic impact after his death. The Crockett Almanac was a wildly popular magazine published between 1835 and 1856. In the 1950s, a Disney-inspired Crockett craze led to sales of approximately $300 million in Crockett-related merchandise. The book The Story of Davy Crockett saw a 30-fold increase in sales during this period.
FOOD AND DRINK Crockett was renowned for his hunting skills, particularly bear hunting. It's estimated that he killed over 105 bears in a single season. Bear meat likely formed a substantial part of his diet. Deer was another common source of food for frontier families like the Crocketts.
As a frontiersman, Crockett's diet included: Potatoes and other root vegetables, wild plants and foraged foods from the forest.
In one instance, Crockett and his fellow soldiers were reduced to eating potatoes found in a cellar after a battle, despite the tubers being contaminated with oil from burned Indian cabins.
Crockett was known to enjoy and provide alcoholic beverages. He referred to alcohol as "the creature." During his political campaigns, he would often buy drinks for potential voters. His friend Marcus Winchester even provided him with cash to purchase alcohol for his supporters.
MUSIC AND ARTS Contemporary accounts mention Crockett's ability to entertain fellow frontiersmen with his violin. Crockett's fiddling provided entertainment around campfires and at the Alamo, he and John McGregor reportedly used their instruments to drown out the Mexican troops' "song of death."
LITERATURE Crockett was a skilled storyteller and his autobiography A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee (1834), became a bestseller and enhanced his mythical status.
Crockett was featured in numerous dime novels and tall tales during the 19th century, portraying him as a larger-than-life frontier hero capable of superhuman feats.
NATURE Crockett was deeply connected to the natural world. From a young age, he was drawn to the wilderness, learning to hunt, fish, and track game. The forest was his refuge, especially when political and personal stresses mounted. He approached nature as a science and hunting as an art, combining the two with excitement. Crockett considered the wilderness his "cathedral," finding solace and purpose in the outdoors.
Crockett frequently explored new hunting grounds, often hiking far into unexplored territories. He hunted various game, including turkeys, deer, feral hogs, and elk, but bears were his favorite.
PETS While not traditional pets, Crockett had a strong bond with his hunting dogs. He preferred mongrel hounds to purebred dogs for bear hunting. Some of his dogs' names included Soundwell, Old Rattler, Tiger, and Sport. His favorite hound was reportedly named Jolar, meaning "eagle-eyed" in ancient Gaelic-Scots. These stocky crossbred dogs were essential companions in Crockett's bear hunting adventures.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS Hunting was both a necessity and a hobby. His legendary marksmanship contributed to his folk-hero status.
SCIENCE AND MATHS Crockett’s knowledge was practical and based on survival skills, with no formal engagement in scientific or mathematical pursuits.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY David Crockett's philosophy and theology were shaped by his frontier experiences and the cultural context of early 19th-century America. While not a formal theologian or philosopher, his views can be gleaned from his actions and recorded statements.
While not overtly religious, Crockett had some spiritual inclinations. He was raised in a Baptist family but did not formally join a church. His writings occasionally reference God, suggesting a belief in a higher power.
Crockett adhered to a personal moral code. He believed in honesty and integrity, as evidenced by his quote, "better to keep a good conscience with an empty purse, than to get a bad opinion of myself, with a full one." His actions often demonstrated a sense of fairness and justice, such as his opposition to the Indian Removal Act.
Crockett believed in individual freedom and often championed the rights of the common man, as demonstrated by his opposition to the Indian Removal Act.
POLITICS Crockett's political views were shaped by his frontier experiences. He advocated for the rights of common people over the wealthy. His famous quote, "Be sure you're right, then go ahead," encapsulates his approach to decision-making. He valued independence, stating, "I am at liberty to vote as my conscience and judgment dictates to be right, without the yoke of any party on me."
Crockett was a member of the National Republican Party and after 1833 the Whig Party. He was a staunch critic of Andrew Jackson, particularly opposing the forced removal of Native Americans.
SCANDAL Crockett’s public opposition to Jackson alienated him from his political base, leading to his loss of re-election to Congress.
MILITARY RECORD David Crockett's military career was primarily centered around his involvement in the Creek War and the Texas Revolution.
Crockett enlisted as a scout in the Tennessee militia in September 1813. He joined Francis Jones's Company of Mounted Riflemen for a 90-day term and served under Colonel John Coffee in the war against the Creek Indians. He participated in the massacre of Tallushatchee, Alabama, in November 1813.
Crockett re-enlisted as third sergeant for a six-month term with the Tennessee Mounted Gunmen under Captain John Cowan in September 1814. During this period, Crockett was known more for his hunting skills than his combat prowess. He often provided wild game for the soldiers and felt more suited to this role than fighting Creek warriors.
After the Creek War, Crockett continued his involvement with the militia. He was elected lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-seventh Regiment of Tennessee Militia in 1818 and served as colonel of the Fifty-seventh Militia Regiment of Lawrence County.
In early 1836, Crockett joined the Texas Revolution. He arrived in Texas in February 1836 and joined the Texas volunteers at San Antonio de Bexar. He participated in the defense of the Alamo against General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's forces and died at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
While Crockett's military career was relatively brief, his participation in the Creek War and his heroic death at the Alamo significantly contributed to his legendary status. His courage and frontier skills, combined with his political career, helped shape the image of Crockett as an American folk hero.
The Fall of the Alamo by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk below depicts Davy Crockett swinging his rifle at Mexican troops who have breached the south gate of the mission.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Years of frontier living kept Crockett physically fit, though the harsh conditions took their toll.
HOMES He lived in modest cabins throughout Tennessee, reflecting his frontier lifestyle.
TRAVEL Crockett traveled extensively during his early years, political career, and in his final move to Texas.
DEATH Crockett died on March 6, 1836, during the defense of the Alamo. Surviving the initial assault, he was reportedly bayoneted to death after Mexican forces overran the mission.
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Crockett has been featured in countless books, movies, and television shows,
The 1950s Davy Crockett television series, produced by Walt Disney and starring Fess Parker, was a cultural phenomenon. Key episodes included Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter (1954) and Davy Crockett at the Alamo (1955). These episodes were later compiled into a movie, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.
"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" was written by Thomas W. Blackburn and George Bruns for the Disney series. This catchy song became a chart-topping hit in 1955, immortalizing the refrain, "Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee..."
The Alamo (1960): Portrayed by John Wayne, Crockett is depicted as a brave, patriotic defender during the Battle of the Alamo.
The Last Command (1955): Starring Arthur Hunnicutt as Crockett, this film also dramatized the events of the Alamo.
Statues depicting Crockett are scattered across the United States, particularly in Tennessee and Texas, where he is celebrated as a hero.
ACHIEVEMENTS Crockett’s legacy as a defender of the common man and a symbol of rugged American individualism endures. His opposition to the Indian Removal Act and his sacrifice at the Alamo are pivotal moments in American history.
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