10 Things To Know About Billy The Kid
Few figures in the Wild West have captured the imagination, like Billy the Kid. Stories of his exploits have been told and retold for over a century, blurring the lines between fact and legend. But who was the real Billy the Kid? Sit up and step into the dusty trails of history; his story is full of surprises.
Orphaned At A Young Age
Born Henry McCarty in 1859, Billy the Kid faced hardship early in life. When his mother succumbed to tuberculosis in 1874, fourteen-year-old Henry found himself alone in an unforgiving world. With no family to assist him and nowhere to turn, desperation led him down a dangerous path.
Adopted Multiple Aliases
In a world where survival depended on deception, Billy became a master of reinvention. He adopted the names William H. Bonney and Kid Antrim, slipping in and out of identities as quickly as he vanished into the vast frontier. Each name served a purpose: hiding his past and eluding the law.
Involved In The Lincoln County War
By 1878, New Mexico was a battleground of greed and power, and Billy found himself at the heart of the conflict. Fighting alongside the Regulators, he sought justice for his murdered employer, John Tunstall, a man who had treated him with rare kindness.
Notorious For Cattle Rustling
Cattle rustling wasn’t an act of rebellion but a way to survive. In the harsh frontier of New Mexico, Billy turned to stealing livestock, branding them under false names, and selling them for profit. Many Old West outlaws, including Billy, saw it as a necessary livelihood.
Escaped from Jail
On April 28, 1881, Billy pulled off his most daring escape. Shackled in the Lincoln County Courthouse, awaiting execution, he saw his chance. Billy overpowered a guard, seized a shotgun, and killed his captors. He vanished on a stolen horse, disappearing into the New Mexico wilderness.
Killed By Sheriff Pat Garrett
On July 14, 1881, Billy the Kid’s luck ran out. Hunted relentlessly, he was tracked to Fort Sumner by Sheriff Pat Garrett. In the darkness of a quiet adobe house, a single gunshot ended his short but infamous life. Billy never saw it coming.
Subject Of Posthumous Pardon Debates
In 2010, New Mexico’s governor reconsidered a promise of clemency made to Billy in 1881 but never honored. Historians clashed over justice versus legend. Would the infamous outlaw be absolved at last? The decision came down: no pardon, and Billy remained an outlaw.
Only One Authentic Photograph Exists
In a rare moment frozen, Billy stood before the camera in 1880, scruffy, armed, and anything but the polished outlaw of legend. That tintype, the only confirmed image of him, would outlive its subject. In 2011, this photograph fetched $2.3 million.
The Mystery Of His Grave
The man was laid to rest in Fort Sumner, but his legend refused to settle even in death. Over the years, floods erased the original markers, leaving his exact resting place uncertain. His headstone, a relic of outlaw history, has been stolen, replaced, and chained down to prevent further theft.
The “21 Kills” Myth
The legend of Billy the Kid paints him as a ruthless gunslinger who took 21 lives, one for each year he lived. But the truth, like much of his story, is far less certain. Historical records suggest his actual kill count was much lower, likely nine, of which he was solely responsible for four.
