Bowie, Jim

Bowie, Jim

 orig. James Bowie

(born 1796?, Logan county, Ky., U.S.—died March 6, 1836, San Antonio, Texas) U.S. soldier. Bowie migrated with his parents to Missouri (1800) and then to Louisiana (1802), where later he owned a sugar plantation and served in the state legislature. In 1828 he settled in Texas, assumed Mexican citizenship, acquired land grants, and married the vice-governor's daughter. In opposition to Mexican legislation to curb the immigration of U.S. settlers, he joined the Texas revolutionary movement and became a colonel in the Texas army. He is remembered for his gallant role in the defense of the Alamo. He invented the knife that bears his name. He became a legendary hero through Western song and ballad.

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Bowie, Jim

(1799–1836) frontiersman and U.S. soldier; developed large hunting knife named after him. [Am. Hist.: Payton, 95]

See : Frontier