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Born: August 17, 1786
Hawkings County, Tennessee
Died: March 6, 1836
San Antonio, Texas
American frontiersman and politician

Davy Crockett, American frontiersman and politician, became a folk hero during his own lifetime.

Crockett grew up on the frontier and later used his knowledge of it in his political campaigns. Although he is known chiefly as a hunter and a soldier, Crockett also worked for land for settlers, relief for people in debt, and an expanded banking system for Tennessee.

Early life

David "Davy" Crockett, the son of John and Rebecca Crockett, was born on August 17, 1786, in East Tennessee.

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He was the fifth of nine children. Crockett's father put him to work driving cattle to Virginia when he was twelve years old. After running away from home to escape a beating from his father, Crockett traveled throughout Virginia.

He decided that his lack of education limited his marriage possibilities, so he learned to read, to write a little, and to "cyphe