Buffalo Bill
1846 – 1917

Buffalo Bill

American frontiersman and showman (1846–1917)

frontiersmancircus performerstage actorshowmanmilitary officer
Born
1846-02-26, Le Claire
Died
1917-01-10
Birthplace state
Iowa

Biography

William Frederick Cody was born on February 26, 1846, in Le Claire, Iowa. He worked as a soldier, bison hunter, showman, stage actor, and writer. At age 23 he began performing in shows centered on cowboy life and frontier episodes. In 1883 he founded Buffalo Bill's Wild West, which he toured across the United States and Europe starting in 1887. He died on January 10, 1917.

Occupation

Buffalo Bill is recorded as a frontiersman, a circus performer, a stage actor, a showman, a military officer, a businessperson, a writer and a actor, born in Iowa (1846–1917).

Connections to Iowa

Buffalo Bill was born in Le Claire, Iowa in 1846. Explore other notable figures from Iowa, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Iowa›Iowahistory ›Historic sites in Iowa›
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Everything a full report reveals about Le Claire

Buffalo Bill came from Le Claire. A full Aubrey report on Le Claire pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Iowa

Other historical figures born in Iowa, ranked by historical prominence.

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Norman Borlaug
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Henry A. Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
American politician (1888–1965); Vice President of the United States from 1941 to 1945
Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
American band leader, arranger, and composer (1904–1944)
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
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Donna Reed
Donna Reed
American film and television actress

Frequently asked about Buffalo Bill

Who was Buffalo Bill?
Buffalo Bill was American frontiersman and showman (1846–1917), born in Iowa (1846 – 1917).
When and where was Buffalo Bill born?
Buffalo Bill was born on 1846-02-26 in Le Claire.
When did Buffalo Bill die?
Buffalo died on 1917-01-10.
What was Buffalo Bill known for?
Buffalo Bill is recorded as a frontiersman, a circus performer, a stage actor, a showman, a military officer, a businessperson, a writer and a actor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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