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August 17, 2026
Today in Texas History
On this day in 1786, frontier icon and Alamo defender Davy Crockett was born in Tennessee.
He began his military career as a scout in the Tennessee militia in 1813, and was elected to the Tennessee legislature in 1821. After a turbulent political career, during which he split with President Andrew Jackson, a fellow Tennessean, and acquired a national reputation as a sharpshooter, hunter and yarn-spinner, Crockett grew disenchanted with the political process and decided to explore Texas.
He set out in November 1835, and reached San Antonio de Béxar in February 1836, shortly before the arrival of Antonio López de Santa Anna. Crockett chose to join Col. William B. Travis, who had deliberately disregarded Sam Houston's orders to withdraw from the Alamo, and died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
He began his military career as a scout in the Tennessee militia in 1813, and was elected to the Tennessee legislature in 1821. After a turbulent political career, during which he split with President Andrew Jackson, a fellow Tennessean, and acquired a national reputation as a sharpshooter, hunter and yarn-spinner, Crockett grew disenchanted with the political process and decided to explore Texas.
He set out in November 1835, and reached San Antonio de Béxar in February 1836, shortly before the arrival of Antonio López de Santa Anna. Crockett chose to join Col. William B. Travis, who had deliberately disregarded Sam Houston's orders to withdraw from the Alamo, and died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.