Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid was an American outlaw and gunfighter, born Henry McCarty, who became famous during New Mexico’s Lincoln County War and died in 1881.
Lincoln County War: A New Mexico conflict from 1878 to 1881 involving rival factions, cattle interests, and lawmen. Billy became notorious as a participant in this violent struggle.
Henry McCarty: The name most commonly given as Billy the Kid’s birth name. Billy’s early records and later aliases are tied to this name.
Dick Brewer: A ranch foreman who led the Regulators during the Lincoln County War. Brewer commanded the group in which Billy served.
Billy the Kid in popular culture: The changing portrayals of Billy the Kid in books, films, songs, and other media. Popular culture recast the historical gunfighter as hero, villain, and folk symbol.
The Kid's Last Words: A reported final statement attributed to Billy the Kid shortly before Pat Garrett killed him. The disputed words show how even Billy’s death became a story open to embellishment.
Regulators of Lincoln County: A group of armed men organized in Lincoln County during its 1878 conflict. Billy rode with this faction after the murder of John Tunstall.
New York City: The largest city in the United States, where Henry McCarty was born in 1859. Billy’s story began far from the New Mexico frontier.
Charlie Bowdre: An American outlaw and member of the Regulators during the Lincoln County War. Bowdre was among Billy’s close associates and died with him in the outlaw era.
The Outlaw Josey Wales: A 1976 Western film about a Missouri farmer who becomes an outlaw during the Civil War. Its fictional outlaw hero illustrates how Western films transform violence into legend.
The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid: Pat Garrett’s 1882 account of Billy the Kid, written with journalist Ash Upson. Garrett’s book became a foundational source, though its claims require scrutiny.