Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 - January 13, 1929) was an American Lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone.
In 1874, he arrived in Wichita, Kansas, where his reputed wife opened a brothel. He later went to work for the town as a peacekeeper. When he wasn't rehired, he left Wichita and followed his brother James to Dodge City.
He met "Doc" Holiday in 1878 when he was in Texas tracking down an outlaw and credits Holiday for saving his life.
In Tombstone, Earp was involved in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which lawmen killed three outlaw Cochise County Cowboys. While Wyatt is often depicted as the key figure in the shootout, his brother Virgil was both Deputy U.S. Marshal and Tombstone City Marshal that day and had considerable more experience in law enforcement as a sheriff, constable, and marshal than Wyatt did. Virgil made the decision to enforce a city ordinance prohibiting carrying weapons in town and to disarm the Cowboys. Wyatt was only a temporary assistant marshal to his brother at the time.
Wyatt Earp's life was full of adventures and controversies, and his legacy continues to fascinate people to this day.
1. en.wikipedia.org
2. britannica.com
Wyatt Earp will live on for many generations to come. His reputation is like John Wayne; larger than life. Thanks for sharing, Sandra.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight into Wyatt Earp and the old west, Sandra xo
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