Butch Cassidy

NAME Robert LeRoy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy, was an infamous American outlaw and the leader of the Wild Bunch gang.

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Butch Cassidy is best known for his numerous bank and train robberies across the American West during the late 19th century, as well as for his role in the notorious Wild Bunch gang, alongside his partner-in-crime, the Sundance Kid.

BIRTH Cassidy was born on Friday, April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah, as the first of 13 children to Maximillian Parker and Ann Campbell Gillies. His birth date, coincidentally falling on a Friday the 13th, would later seem an ominous start for a life filled with crime and daring escapades.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Cassidy’s parents were British immigrants who had moved to Utah after converting to Mormonism. His great-grandfather was imprisoned alongside Charles Dickens' father, John Dickens, while Cassidy's grandfather is rumored to have inspired the character of Oliver Twist. The family's storied past included brushes with the law long before Cassidy took up his infamous mantle.

CHILDHOOD  Raised in a large Mormon family in Utah, Cassidy grew up in a modest household. He likely developed a strong connection to the outdoors and horses.

Cassidy left home during his early teens and began working on a dairy farm. There, he met and was mentored by Mike Cassidy, a cattle rustler who would heavily influence young Robert’s path into a life of crime.

EDUCATION Butch Cassidy had little formal education, gaining most of his life lessons from his experiences working on ranches and through his association with outlaws like Mike Cassidy.

CAREER RECORD Cassidy's criminal career began with a minor incident—stealing a pie and a pair of jeans, for which he left an IOU. His first major crime was the June 24, 1889 robbery of the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado, where he and his associates made off with $21,000. He later formed the Wild Bunch gang, whose exploits included a series of bank and train robberies across the American West. Cassidy fled with his fellow outlaw The Sundance Kid first to Argentina and then to Bolivia where he died in a shootout.

During a brief stint as a butcher in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Cassidy acquired the nickname "Butch", to which he soon appended the surname Cassidy in honor of his old friend and mentor, Mike Cassidy.

APPEARANCE Butch Cassidy was described as having a rugged appearance, fitting the image of the quintessential Western outlaw. His life on the run and frequent encounters with the harsh elements of the frontier likely contributed to his weathered look.

Cassidy's mugshot from the Wyoming State Prison in 1894

FASHION Cassidy was known for his practicality in clothing, often seen in the typical attire of a cowboy or rancher. However, during his later years in South America, he may have adopted a more refined look to blend in as a respectable rancher.

CHARACTER Known for his coolness under pressure and ability to plan heists, Cassidy was also recognised for his charm and wit, which helped him earn the loyalty of his gang members and the admiration of some who crossed his path. Despite his criminal activities, he was often seen as a likable and charismatic figure. 

SENSE OF HUMOUR Butch Cassidy had a noted sense of humor, often lightening the mood during tense moments. His ability to joke and remain cheerful, even while planning or executing robberies, made him a charismatic leader of the Wild Bunch.

RELATIONSHIPS  Cassidy had a romantic involvement with Ann Bassett, a rancher and outlaw in her own right. He was also briefly involved with her sister, Josie. His close relationship with Harry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid, and Sundance’s girlfriend, Etta Place, was pivotal in his later years. Below is a picture of Harry Longabaugh and Etta Place just before they sailed for South America. 

MONEY AND FAME Cassidy's criminal activities brought him significant wealth, though he was constantly on the move to evade capture, making it difficult to fully enjoy his ill-gotten gains. His notoriety grew as the Pinkerton Detective Agency and other law enforcement agencies pursued him, cementing his place as a legendary outlaw.

FOOD AND DRINK Cassidy would have adopted the typical diet of a cowboy, including beef, beans, and coffee. Alcohol was likely consumed, given the era. When on the run, he likely subsisted on simple, practical fare suitable for life on the trail.

MUSIC AND ARTS  Cassidy's life and legend have inspired countless songs, films, and works of art, particularly within the Western genre.

LITERATURE . Given his intelligence, its likely Cassidy was well-read.

Cassidy's life has been the subject of numerous books and articles, both during his lifetime and after his death, contributing to the mythos of the American outlaw.

NATURE Cassidy spent much of his life in the rugged landscapes of the American West, from the mountains of Utah to the plains of Wyoming, and later in the remote regions of South America. He was familiar with the natural world and adept at surviving in harsh environments.

PETS It's likely Cassidy had a fondness for horses, given his lifestyle as a cowboy and outlaw.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Cassidy’s hobbies included gambling, as well as horseback riding and sharpshooting, skills that were essential for his survival and success as an outlaw. He also enjoyed planning and executing robberies, which might be considered a grim form of sport.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Cassidy’s success in planning and executing complex robberies suggests a sharp mind capable of strategic thinking and problem-solving.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Raised in a Mormon household, Cassidy had some exposure to religious teachings, though his life choices indicated a departure from traditional religious values. His personal philosophy seemed to be shaped more by the harsh realities of life in the West than by any formal doctrine.

POLITICS His life of crime positioned him against the established order, making him an enemy of the state and law enforcement agencies.

SCANDAL Cassidy’s life was filled with scandal, from his numerous robberies to his romantic entanglements with outlaws like Ann Bassett. His involvement in train robberies and other high-profile crimes brought him both infamy and a $4,000 bounty on his head.

From a young age, Butch Cassidy was more inclined to rustling cattle than rustling up parishioners. He picked up the trade from a charming fellow called Mike Cassidy, a sort of cowboy godfather with a penchant for disappearing with other people’s livestock. It’s like learning your criminal craft from a seasoned pro.

His first big score was a pie. Yes, a pie. And a pair of jeans. He even had the audacity to leave an IOU. Imagine that – robbing a bakery and being polite about it. It’s like stealing a car and leaving a thank-you note.

Later, of course, he graduated to bigger things. Banks, trains, and the occasional payroll. He gathered a gang of desperadoes who looked like they’d wandered off the set of a bad Western. They called themselves the Wild Bunch. 

They were good at what they did, these chaps. So good, in fact, that they attracted the attention of The Pinkerton Detective Agency who was hired to run them down, and in addition a $4000 bounty (a huge sum at the time) was placed on their heads. With a huge bounty on their heads, life on the lam got a bit wearing. So, off Cassidy went with the Sundance Kid to South America, where they tried their hand at honest work – guarding a tin mine. 

The end of the story is as abrupt as it is unsatisfying. A shootout in Bolivia, and that was that. No last words, no dramatic showdown. Just a couple of outlaws, biting the dust in a place most of us can’t pronounce. It’s a far cry from the legend.

MILITARY RECORD Cassidy had no formal military record, though his life on the run and frequent gunfights with law enforcement could be seen as a continuous battle against the forces of law and order.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Cassidy’s life on the frontier, with its demands for physical labor, horseback riding, and frequent running from the law, kept him in good physical shape. However, the constant stress of his outlaw life likely took a toll on his overall well-being.

HOMES Cassidy lived in various places throughout his life, from his family’s homestead in Circleville, Utah to remote hideouts across the American West. In his later years, he attempted to settle down in Argentina on a ranch near Cholila, and then worked in Bolivia under an alias.

The log cabin in Circleville, Utah, where Cassidy grew up by Derrell Williams 

TRAVEL Cassidy traveled extensively throughout the American West, from Utah to Colorado and Wyoming, and later fled to South America, where he lived in Argentina and Bolivia. His travels were often dictated by the need to evade law enforcement.

DEATH On November 7, 1908, Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were reportedly killed in a shootout with Bolivian soldiers in San Vicente. The bodies found were believed to be theirs, though some controversy surrounds the exact circumstances of their deaths, with some believing Cassidy may have survived.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Butch Cassidy’s life has been immortalized in numerous films, most notably the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, where Paul Newman played Cassidy. His story has also been featured in countless books, documentaries, and songs.

ACHIEVEMENTS  Butch Cassidy achieved notoriety as one of the most famous outlaws in American history, leading the Wild Bunch in a series of daring robberies that captured the public's imagination and cemented his legacy as a legendary figure of the Wild West.