David "Davy" Crockett (1786-1836)
Born in East Tennessee, Davy Crockett enlisted in the militia in 1813 and fought in the Creek Indian War. He also pursued local and then state and national politics, supporting public land policy to aid western settlement. He disagreed with Andrew Jackson on several issues including land reform and the Indian removal bill, but he was unable to counter the popular support for Jackson and was not willing to join forces with the Whig opposition. In disgust, he left the upper south and headed to Texas, arriving in San Antonio in early February 1836. He died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
The exploits of Davy Crockett, a sharpshooter and hunter, were exaggerated and printed in a series of comic almanacs published from 1836-1856. In this way, his real accomplishments contributed to the formation of a folk myth. Crockett enjoyed status as a figure of regional significance as well as a mythical or folk hero based on exaggerations of his abilities and exploits. Crockett, like Daniel Boone, earned a place in American folklore as a model of independence and virtue in a frontier setting.
Additional Information Can Be Found At...
David Crockett, His Life and Adventures
Handbook of Texas Online: CROCKETT, DAVID
David Crockett: His Life and Adventures
CROCKETT, David (1786-1836) Biographical Information