Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty in 1859, was a legendary American outlaw of the Wild West. Raised in New Mexico, he turned to crime early, engaging in cattle rustling and theft. By his teens, he was a wanted man, notorious for his role in the Lincoln County War, a violent feud over economic control. As a member of the Regulators, he was linked to several murders, cementing his fearsome reputation. Despite his outlaw status, Billy was charismatic, earning folk-hero status among some. His criminal spree included daring escapes, like his breakout from Lincoln County jail. In 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked him down, killing the 21-year-old in Fort Sumner. Billy’s life, shrouded in myth, inspired countless stories, with estimates of his killings ranging from 9 to 21. His brief, turbulent existence remains a symbol of the lawless frontier.
T
