Scout and hunter Buffalo Bill Cody became a traveling show owner and performer

When Ned Buntline's articles about Buffalo Bill Cody were published in the New York Weekly, the mythology of the cowboy officially began. Over time, Cody, whose real name was William Frederick Cody, asserted that he was 15 when he rode for the Pony Express. Cody recounted hundreds of miles of travels while confronting multiple dangers in his many stories about his adventures as an Express rider. In truth, he delivered messages from the home office to a telegraph station, a trip of around three miles, while working for the business that controlled the Pony Express. Most of his personal history is marked by these contradictions.

He received the Medal of Honor while a scout, which was later taken away and reinstated in 1989. After agreeing to supply buffalo meat to the Kansas Pacific Railroad, he earned his moniker. Over 4,000 bison, he claimed, had been slaughtered during the course of the 18-month contract. He began his stage career at the age of 26. His first traveling company, the Buffalo Bill Combination, was established in 1874. From that point on, he promoted himself and his legend by appearing in touring western exhibitions.

By 1893, he was well-known not only in the United States but also in Europe. His traveling extravaganzas featured Sitting Bull and other well-known Native Americans, as well as reenactments of Custer's Last Stand and other Western legends. He made a fortune, gave performances across Europe and later before King Edward VII. He was an expert performer who made his own legend, and he was unmatched when it came to self-promotion.

Born: William Frederick Cody, February 26, 1846Le Claire, Iowa Territory, U.S.
Died: January 10, 1917 (aged 70)Denver, Colorado, U.S.