Daniel Boone

NAME Daniel Boone

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Daniel Boone is famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, his role as a pioneer and frontiersman, and his exploits in the American wilderness during the 18th century.

BIRTH Daniel Boone was born on November 2, 1734, in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Boone was the sixth of eleven children born to Squire Boone, a weaver and blacksmith, and Sarah Morgan, who was of Welsh descent. The Boone family were Quakers who emigrated from England to America.

CHILDHOOD Boone spent his early years in the wilderness of Pennsylvania, where he received his first rifle at the age of 12.  The young Daniel learned hunting, trapping, and survival skills. His family later moved to the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina, which further fueled his love for exploration.

EDUCATION Daniel Boone received little formal education, but he was literate and educated himself through practical experience in the woods and by reading.

CAREER RECORD Boone's career as a frontiersman began in earnest when he led a group of settlers through the Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. He helped establish the settlement of Boonesborough in 1775 and played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the United States. 

Boone wasn't just a hunter, trapper, guide, and adventurer. He saw military action in the American Revolution, French and Indian War, and was also a tavern owner, surveyor, land speculator, legislator, horse trader, and slave owner.

APPEARANCE Daniel Boone was described as being of medium height with a sturdy, athletic build. He had fair skin, blue eyes, and sandy hair. Below is an 1820 portrait of Boone by Chester Harding, the only known portrait of him made during his lifetime.

FASHION Boone was known for his practical frontier attire, which typically included buckskin clothing, moccasins, and a coonskin cap, though the latter was more of a myth popularized by later stories. He is reported to have said that he found them to be unstylish and instead donned hats made from beaver.

CHARACTER Boone was known for his bravery, resourcefulness, and pioneering spirit. He was also considered honest, kind-hearted, and a natural leader.

SENSE OF HUMOUR There is little specific documentation of Boone's sense of humour, but his ability to tell stories and entertain others suggests he had a lively and engaging personality.

RELATIONSHIPS Daniel Boone married Rebecca Bryan on August 14, 1756, and they had ten children together. Rebecca was nearly as tall as her husband and was very attractive with black hair and dark eyes. Their marriage was strong and supportive, despite the many hardships they faced.

Daniel Boone, the quintessential frontiersman, turns out to have had a family life more befitting a daytime soap opera than a history book. Turns out, his daughter Jemima, well, wasn't exactly his. Historians now suspect she was the product of a little fraternization between Rebecca, and Boone's own brother, Ned. Seems Boone was off on a two-year hunting trip when this little bit of frontier whoops-a-daisy happened. Boone just raised Jemima as his own, adding her to the already bustling Boone brood.

Speaking of bustling, tragedy wasn't kind to the Boone family. Two of his sons met a gruesome end at the hands of Native Americans, a macabre warning to settlers to hightail it out of Kentucky. Boone, ever the pragmatist, reluctantly agreed, leading the family back east. 

Based on The Rescue, a controversial statue that once stood outside the United States Capitol building

MONEY AND FAME Boone struggled financially throughout his life despite his fame as a frontiersman. Land speculation and legal troubles often left him in debt.

Boone became a folk hero during his lifetime, celebrated for his pioneering spirit.

FOOD AND DRINK As a hunter and trapper, Boone's diet consisted largely of game meat, wild fruits, and vegetables. He was also known to enjoy cornmeal-based foods like cornbread.

MUSIC AND ARTS The frontier life and natural surroundings likely influenced his appreciation for storytelling and folk traditions.

LITERATURE Boone's adventures and experiences were the subject of numerous books, articles, and folklore, contributing significantly to American frontier literature.

The Discovery, Settlement and present State of Kentucke and an Essay towards the Topography, and Natural History of that important Country, a 1784 book by Kentucky school teacher John Filson.  An account of Boone's adventures, it made him famous in America and Europe.

NATURE Boone had a deep connection with nature, spending much of his life in the wilderness and advocating for the exploration and settlement of new lands.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Hunting, trapping, and exploring were Boone's primary activities, which were both his hobbies and means of livelihood.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Boone had a practical understanding of navigation, geography, and survival skills but did not engage in formal scientific or mathematical pursuits.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Raised in a Quaker family with pacifist beliefs, Boone held a strong belief in individual freedom and was known for his tolerance and fairness, though he did not adhere strictly to any one religious doctrine.

SCANDAL Boone faced several controversies, including disputes over land claims and financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, he maintained a reputation for integrity.

MILITARY RECORD Boone served in the French and Indian War and later in the American Revolutionary War. 

When two of his daughters were snatched by a war party, Boone, ever the resourceful fellow, managed to scare them off and bring his girls home safe.

Abduction of Boone's Daughter, painting by Karl Ferdinand Wimar, 

Being captured by Native Americans seemed to be a Boone family tradition. Daniel himself was nabbed a few times. In one particularly bizarre incident, he was adopted by a Shawnee chief in 1775. The chief, clearly a man with a whimsical streak, bestowed upon Boone the name "Shel-tow-ee," which translates roughly to "Big Turtle" – a testament, perhaps, to Boone's impressive pack-carrying abilities and leisurely pace. This forced family bonding lasted five whole months before the ever-restless Boone escaped, swiped a horse, and hightailed it 160 miles back to civilization. By that point, his family, convinced he was pushing up daisies, had already hightailed it back to North Carolina. Talk about awkward family reunions.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Boone's rugged lifestyle kept him physically fit and healthy for most of his life. His survival skills and endurance were legendary.

HOMES Boone lived in various locations throughout his life, reflecting his pioneering spirit and the ongoing struggle to secure land ownership on the frontier.

Born in Pennsylvania, he moved with his family to North Carolina as a young man. In Kentucky, he played a key role in founding Boonesborough, a crucial early settlement. Later in life, land disputes and financial difficulties forced him to move again, eventually settling in Missouri.

TRAVEL Boone was a prolific traveler, exploring vast areas of the American frontier. His journeys took him through uncharted territories, and he played a significant role in mapping and settling new lands.

In 1775, he carved a path through the wilderness known as the Wilderness Road. Imagine hacking your way through dense forests with an ax – that's Boone's idea of a weekend getaway. This path, a crucial artery for westward expansion, allowed settlers to flood into Kentucky and beyond. It was basically the Uber of the 18th century frontier.

Boonesborough, one of the first settlements west of the Appalachians, owes a debt of gratitude to Boone. He played a pivotal role in its establishment, solidifying his association with Kentucky. 

Boone's First View of Kentucky, William Tylee Ranney (1849)

DEATH Daniel Boone died on September 26, 1820, at the age of 85, in Defiance, Missouri. He was initially buried next to his wife, Rebecca, but their remains were later moved to the Frankfort Cemetery in Kentucky.

The singer and entertainer Pat Boone was descended (on his father's side) from Daniel Boone

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Daniel Boone's fame as a frontiersman made him a popular subject in American culture.

Numerous books have been written about his life, fictionalizing and romanticizing his adventures.

He has been portrayed in countless films and television shows, solidifying his image as a quintessential American pioneer. Especially noteworthy was Daniel Boone, an TV series, starring Fess Parker as  Boone, that ran on NBC for six seasons, from 1964 until 1970.

Boone's life has been depicted in numerous books, television shows, and movies. He is often portrayed as the quintessential American frontiersman.

ACHIEVEMENTS Daniel Boone's achievements are multifaceted and left a lasting impact on American history.

He is credited with opening Kentucky for settlement, paving the way for westward expansion.

His pioneering spirit and exploration skills played a vital role in shaping the character of the American frontier.

Boone's contributions to the American Revolution in the West helped secure the region for the newly formed nation.

Beyond his specific actions, he became a symbol of American self-reliance, courage, and connection to the wilderness.