Davy Crockett is nothing short of an American icon. However, unlike many legends, Crockett was very real indeed! You may have watched his stories on TV before – or, you might simply recognise the name from tales of yore. However, there’s plenty to the frontiersman that might just surprise you. And, that’s what we’re here for! Here are some fun facts about Davy Crockett to tell your friends and family about.
1. Davy Crockett was a child runaway.
Ever one to go hunting for adventure even as a boy, Crockett attended school for just four days before he ran into trouble – and, amid a scuffle with his father, he decided to flee the family home and go find his fortune. He’d find support with cattle drovers, going on to work as an apprentice to a hatmaker – is that why he had such a fancy hat?
2. Crockett developed off the land.
Crockett was born to a modest family homestead and, as mentioned, never had much of a formal education. Instead, he learned woodsman skills, and how to hunt and farm. These experiences, of course, would help Crockett in later life as he became a man of the frontier.
3. He went to war and supported Andrew Jackson.
Davy Crockett famously went to war in 1812 and mainly worked as a scout with then-General Andrew Jackson. Crockett’s incredible tracking and frontier skills would make him a fantastic planner and marksman. He went on to receive high praise for his bravery in battle across the conflicts.
4. Crockett stood up for Texans in their fight for freedom from Mexico.
Texas used to be part of Mexico – and at the time when Crockett moved to the state, he was in the right place at the right time to help support revolutionaries who were fighting against Mexican forces, demanding their freedom.
5. He fought at the Alamo.
Crockett wouldn’t see conflict just once – but multiple times, famously, too, when he fought at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. He fought with Texan defenders against Mexican militia who strived to take over the mission. It was here, tragically, that Crockett lost his life.
6. No one’s really sure how Davy Crockett died.
It’s true – Crockett certainly died in the action at the Alamo, though no one can say for certain how or when he lost his life. It’s thought he died as he lived, battling to the end – and it was his last stand with the Texans that helped to cement his name in the history books.
7. Crockett was a famous storyteller.
Crockett was not only a top marksman, explorer, and soldier – he also had the gift of the gab, building a reputation for telling tales about his exploits. It’s thought he embellished much of what he told people – but that at least helped to keep his stories exciting and at times jaw-dropping!
8. He was a politician elected to the House of Representatives.
Given his nature for speeches and his bombastic personality, Davy Crockett made for an ideal politician. He served in the House of Representatives for two distinct periods, once between 1827 and 1831, and then again between 1833 and 1835. He technically represented the state of Tennessee when he first joined, and was deeply involved in protecting the rights of common people.
9. He opposed the Indian Removal Act.
Crockett opposed several antisocial policies, such as the Indian Removal Act, which was actually a policy of Andrew Jackson, now US President. Crockett believed that native Americans had the right to owning land and that removing them would violate their cultural rights.
FAQs about Davy Crockett
Why was Davy Crockett so famous?
Davy Crockett was likely so famous because of his incredible bravery and his outlandish stories. He was a popular politician as well as a frontiersman, too, thanks to the fact he fought for the rights of everyday people.
How tall was Davy Crockett?
For all some legends make Crockett out to be a giant of a man, he was said to have been around five feet, eight inches tall – which, for the time, was considered fairly tall.
Is the story of Davy Crockett true?
The tales you might have heard about Davy Crockett might be fabricated to some extent due to the passage of time and legend – but he was a real person who fought for and represented his country.
Further reading:
https://facts.uk/tag/USA
https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/davy-crockett
https://www.thealamo.org/remember/david-crockett
Do you know any interesting facts about Davy Crockett? Share them in the comments below!
