Early Life
David “Davy” Crockett is revered as a folk hero in the United States and is frequently linked to the Alamo and the other battles he fought during major wars. His fame soon spread to plays, books, movies, TV series, and other media. Crockett, though, might not be exactly how the media portrays him to be. Read on to learn the whole truth about this renegade frontiersman.
On August 17, 1786, the legendary Davy Crockett was born in Tennessee’s eastern region. The region was actually a North Carolina breakaway territory at the time. Franklin was the name of the autonomous territory. A few years later, North Carolina recaptured Franklin. Then, Tennessee was incorporated into the region.
Like many young people in school, Crockett experienced bullying. He made the decision to exact retribution when he was 13 and beat up his tormentors. He began skipping school because he was afraid of the repercussions. Crockett left home and didn’t return for almost three years when his father found out.
He Was A Master Woodsman And Hunter & Participated In Several Wars
During his time away from home, Crockett made it a point to educate himself about frontier customs.
Crockett quickly became a proficient hunter and outdoorsman. He was primarily renowned as a skilled bear hunter. Over the course of seven months, he killed 105 bears, selling the oils extracted from their fat, pelts, and flesh for a healthy profit.
The Creek War, in which he and thousands of other Tennessee soldiers battled against Creek Indians, was one of the earliest conflicts Crockett participated in. Crockett was employed there as a scout and wild game hunter.
Crockett fought in the Creek War and the War of 1812 which were both fought under Andrew Jackson’s command. He did not, however, spend much time in battle.
A Legislator & A Business Man
Crockett served two terms as a Tennessee state legislator after leaving the military. He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. People admired him for his down-home demeanor and support of the underprivileged.
His steadfast resistance to Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act, however, caused him to lose his last race. During his six years in Congress, he was unable to pass a single piece of legislation. In 1825, after losing his seat, he began a new career.
He started a company that made barrels. Once he was carrying his load down the Mississippi River in a boat when it started to capsize. At the last second, Crockett was saved by his shipmates.
The Play That Made Him Famous & Saving Andrew Jackson’s Life
After the 1831 New York City premiere of the play The Lion of the West, the world learned even more about Crockett. In the play, the narrative of Crockett’s stint in Congress was dramatized. Crockett saw the play when it visited Washington, D.C., and he was ecstatic about it.
In addition, despite the fact that they clashed frequently, Crockett once saved Andrew Jackson’s life.
A gunman by the name of Richard Lawrence attempted to kill Jackson on January 30, 1835, in front of the US Capitol. Crockett was able to disarm him and wrestle him to the ground when his gun accidentally fired.
Walt Disney’s Connection to Crockett
Thanks to Walt Disney, Davy Crockett’s legacy quickly came to dominate the early 20th century. He produced several highly successful TV shows and motion pictures about Davy Crockett.
Soon, toys with frontier themes were available for kids, and at one point 5,000 coonskin hats were being sold each day.