Davy Crockett | |
|---|---|
 Davy Crockett portrait by Chester Harding (1834) | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee | |
| In office March 4, 1827 – March 4, 1831 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Rankin Alexander |
| Succeeded by | William Fitzgerald |
| Constituency | 9th district |
| In office March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1835 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Adam Huntsman |
| Constituency | 12th district |
| Member of the Tennessee General Assembly | |
| In office 1821–1825 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Crockett August 17, 1786 Limestone, Greene County, Tennessee (at that time, part of North Carolina), U.S. |
| Died | March 6, 1836 (aged 49) Alamo Mission, San Antonio, Republic of Texas |
| Political party |
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| Spouses |
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| Children | 6 including John Wesley Crockett |
| Occupation | Pioneer, soldier, politician |
| Signature |  |
Colonel David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was an American politician, militia officer and frontiersman. Often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier", he represented Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives and fought in the Texas Revolution.
Crockett grew up in East Tennessee, where he gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. He was made a colonel in the militia of Lawrence County, Tennessee and was elected to the Tennessee state legislature in 1821. In 1827, he was elected to the U.S. Congress where he vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson, especially the Indian Removal Act. Crockett's opposition to Jackson's policies led to his defeat in the 1831 elections. He was re-elected in 1833, then narrowly lost in 1835, prompting his angry departure to Texas (then the Mexican state of Tejas) shortly thereafter. In early 1836, he took part in the Texas Revolution and died at the Battle of the Alamo. It is unclear whether he died in battle or was executed after being captured by the Mexican Army.[2][3][4]
Crockett became famous during his lifetime for larger-than-life exploits popularized by stage plays and almanacs. After his death, he continued to be credited with acts of mythical proportion. These led in the 20th century to television and film portrayals, and he became one of the best-known American folk heroes.[5][6]
- ^ Price, Angel. "Davy Crockett- Bear Hunting in Tennessee".
- ^ De La Pena, Jose Enrique (1975). With Santa Anna in Texas A Personal Narrative of the Revolution. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-0-89096-001-1.
- ^ Weber, David J. (January 1990). Myth and the History of the Hispanic Southwest. University of New Mexico Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-8263-1194-8.
- ^ Kilgore, Dan (January 19, 2010). How Did Davy Die? And Why Do We Care So Much?: Commemorative Edition (Elma Dill Russell Spencer Series in the West and Southwest) (Commemorative ed.). Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-60344-194-0.
- ^ Abramson, Haskell & Lofaro 2006, pp. 300–301.
- ^ Lofaro, Michael A (December 2010). "David "Davy" Crockett". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved January 24, 2013.