Mike Fink | |
|---|---|
 An early drawing of Mike Fink, on a keelboat, with rifle in hand, ready to take on anyone who challenged him to a shooting match[1] | |
| Born | c. 1770–1780 |
| Died | c. 1823 (aged 43–53) |
| Other names | Miche Phinck, Bangall, The Snapping Turtle |
| Occupation(s) | scout, hunter, keelboatman, riverman |
| Known for | his near folklorish, tales and legends, as the Ohio and Mississippi keelboat riverman, who could outshoot, outfight, and outdrink all challengers |
Mike Fink (also spelled Miche Phinck)[1][2][3] (c. 1770/1780 – c. 1823), called "king of the keelboaters", was a semi-legendary brawler and river boatman who exemplified the tough and hard-drinking men who ran keelboats up and down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
- ^ a b O'Neil, Paul. The Old West: The Rivermen. Time-Life Books, New York. 1975 p. 71
- ^ "Mike Fink; an American anti-hero". NBC News. August 2, 2004.
- ^ "University of Virginia–American Studies: "Mike Fink: the Last of the Boatmen" by Timothy Field (1829)". Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.