Davy Crockett
A folk hero who shaped his own myth, he died defending the Alamo and became an everlasting symbol of American frontier courage.
1786–1836 (age 50)·American politician and frontiersman·Birthday: August 17
Biography
Davy Crockett was a self-made man who became a national symbol. Born in Tennessee, he was a hunter, scout, and militia veteran of the Creek War before turning his backwoods charm into a political career. Serving three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, he styled himself as a 'coonskin cap' democrat, opposing President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act with a fierce independence that ultimately cost him his seat. Defeated, he famously told his former constituents, 'You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.' His journey west sealed his legend. He arrived at the Alamo mission in San Antonio in early 1836, joining the Texian defenders. When the fortress fell to Mexican forces, Crockett died with its garrison, a sacrifice that transformed him from a colorful politician into an immortal icon of rugged individualism and patriotic sacrifice.
#1 When Davy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1786
Davy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1786Born
1791Started school
1799Became a teenager
1802Could drive
1804Could vote
1807Turned 21
1816Turned 30
1826Turned 40
1836Turned 50
Key Achievements
- Served as a U.S. Congressman from Tennessee from 1827 to 1831 and again from 1833 to 1835.
- Fought and died at the Battle of the Alamo, becoming a key martyr for the Texan independence movement.
- Published an autobiography, 'A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett,' which helped popularize his frontier persona.
- Served under Andrew Jackson in the Creek War and was elected a colonel in the Tennessee militia.
Did You Know?
His famous quote, 'Be always sure you are right, then go ahead,' is a motto he claimed to live by.
He did not always wear a coonskin cap, preferring a wide-brimmed beaver hat in Congress.
Before politics, he worked as a hunter, trapper, and scout to provide for his family.
The 1950s Disney television series starring Fess Parker reignited his popularity and created the 'coonskin cap craze' among children.
“You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.”
