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Billy the Kid

7 questions Β· History

Billy the Kid, born around 1859, probably as Henry McCarty, was one of the best-known gunslingers of the Wild West. Under the name William H. Bonney he fought in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico and fell foul of the law. Legend credited him with killing 21 men: one for each year of his life. In 1881 he was shot dead by Sheriff Pat Garrett, aged just 21. Good to know: He was probably born Henry McCarty. He used several names in his short life. The war was a bloody feud between merchant factions. Billy sided with one of the parties. Garrett had even known Billy before. He shot him in the dark in a bedroom. His youth added to the legend. Legend says he had killed 21 men: one per year of life. An original tintype changed hands for about 2.3 million dollars in 2011. Only a handful of genuine images of him exist. The territory of New Mexico was still largely lawless then. That is where his short outlaw life played out. What starts as plain knowledge quickly becomes one aha moment after another.

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4 of 7 questions with answers

By what alias is Billy the Kid also known?

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William H. Bonney

He was probably born Henry McCarty.

πŸ’‘ Did you know? He used several names in his short life.

In which New Mexico conflict did Billy the Kid take part?

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The Lincoln County War

The war was a bloody feud between merchant factions.

πŸ’‘ Did you know? Billy sided with one of the parties.

Which sheriff shot Billy the Kid in 1881?

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Pat Garrett

Garrett had even known Billy before.

πŸ’‘ Did you know? He shot him in the dark in a bedroom.

How old was Billy the Kid when he died?

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About 21

His youth added to the legend.

πŸ’‘ Did you know? Legend says he had killed 21 men: one per year of life.

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