Davy Crockett was a legend before he died, and a bigger one afterward. A Tennessee frontiersman, bear hunter and congressman famous for his plain speech and tall tales, he went to Texas in search of a new start and found his end at the Alamo, sealing his place in American folklore.
The frontier congressman
Born in Tennessee in 17861, Crockett grew up poor on the frontier and made his name as a hunter, scout and storyteller2. His backwoods charm carried him into politics and three terms in the US Congress1, where he was known for independence and for championing the poor settlers of the frontier, often clashing with President1Andrew Jackson.
David Crockett in 1831, during his years in Congress, in a watercolour by James Hamilton Shegogue. National Portrait Gallery, Washington. Public domain
The road to Texas
After losing his seat in Congress, Crockett headed to1Texas, then in revolt against Mexico, reportedly telling his constituents they could go to a warmer place1 while he went to Texas. By early 1836 he had joined the small garrison1 holding an old mission in San Antonio: the Alamo.
Campaign routes of the Texas Revolt, 1835 to 1836, including Santa Anna's march on the Alamo at San Antonio de Béxar. Map drawn by Joseph L. Cain, 1928. Public domain
The Alamo and the legend
When Santa Anna's army stormed the Alamo in March 18363, Crockett died with the rest of the defenders; the exact manner of his death is debated among historians4. In life he had already become a folk character; in death he became an American myth, the coonskin-capped 'King of the Wild Frontier' of later books, songs and films, often far removed from the real man3.
The Fall of the Alamo by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, about 1903, said to show Crockett swinging his rifle as Mexican troops break in. It was painted almost seventy years after the battle. Public domain
Sources and notes
Numbered notes in the text point to the works below.
Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association (Michael A. Lofaro), “Crockett, David”↩ abcdef
Mark Derr, The Frontiersman: The Real Life and the Many Legends of Davy Crockett (William Morrow, 1993). ↩
Michael Wallis, David Crockett: The Lion of the West (W. W. Norton, 2011). ↩ ab
Dan Kilgore, How Did Davy Die? (Texas A&M University Press, 1978). ↩
