John Wesley Hardin

Not to be confused with John Wesley Harding.
John Wesley Hardin
This ferrotype photograph is a mirror image of Hardin.
Born(1853-05-26)May 26, 1853[1]
Whitewright, Texas, U.S.[2]
DiedAugust 19, 1895(1895-08-19) (aged 42)[1]
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
Other names
  • "Little Arkansas"
  • "Wesley Clements"
  • "J. H. Swain"
Occupation(s)Gambling/card sharp, cowboy, cattle rustler, lawyer
Known forVery young outlaw and prolific gunfighter
Spouses
  • Jane Bowen
  • Carolyn Jane "Callie" Lewis
Parent(s)James Gibson "Gip" Hardin
Mary Elizabeth Dixson

John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Old West outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk icon. Hardin often got into trouble with the law from an early age. He killed his first man at the age of 15, claiming he did so in self-defense.

Pursued by lawmen for most of his life, in 1877 at the age of 23, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder. At the time of sentencing, Hardin claimed to have killed 42 men,[3] while contemporary newspaper accounts attributed 27 deaths to him.[4] While in prison, Hardin studied law and wrote an autobiography. He was well known for exaggerating or fabricating stories about his life and claimed credit for many killings that cannot be corroborated.

Within a year of his 1894 release from prison, Hardin was killed by John Selman in an El Paso saloon.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1860 U S Census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Marohn-gun was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference twentyseven was invoked but never defined (see the help page).