As a frontiersman, Daniel Boone was the man behind helping the US government to explore the place, now called Kentucky. He is considered a pioneer for discussing and settling Kentucky as the state of modern America. Boone was also famous for his extraordinary navigation and hunting talent.
In this article, you will become familiar with 10 cool facts of this gun-toting forerunner American personality.
Daniel Boone: 10 amazing facts about this American frontiersman
1. His family settled in American from England
Daniel Boone’s father migrated from England to the USA to escape religious persecution, an interesting fact about Daniel Boone. His father, Squire Boone, was a blacksmith and a weaver. He journeyed with his family from England to Pennsylvania in the USA. In 1681, William Penn established this colony for people who suffered from religious intolerance. Boone belonged to the Quakers community. In 1750, Squire Boone was kicked from the Quakers family, and he migrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. He bought land in 1753 to earn livelihood for his family.
2. Boone became an excellent hunter when he was a teenager
Boone was given a gun for hunting when he was 12 years old. He spent his day-long time while hunting for animals. At that time, animal furs were of high demand locally as well as in the European markets. From the first three weeks of hunting, he spent all the money whatever he earned. Boone could have spent the rest of his life as a prolific hunter because of his excellent skills. Later, he also became a skillful navigator for possessing an active remembrance for every path he used to walk.
3. Daniel Boone escaped death as a soldier
A war between the native Indians and the French broke out at Ohio River. Boon supported the French, and it was in 1755 when he joined the army under General Edward Braddock. The Braddock’s army faced a humiliating defeat at the Monongahela Battle, and several of the soldiers were either dead or wounded. Boone managed to run away from the battle as fast as possible to escape death.
4. This frontiersman introduced the US government to present-day Kentucky
Being an outstanding explorer, Boone was the person to have introduced the US government to the place, now known as Kentucky, an interesting fact about Daniel Boone. It was in 1775 when a company hired his services for planning a town near the Cumberland Gap, a mountainous path located near the present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. It was because of Boone’s path exploration that all his fellow workers were able to construct the Wilderness Road. Later, this road became a source of Kentucky settlement.
5. Boone’s settlements became helped in propagation of English language
Daniel Boone managed to secure the alternative side of the Cumberland Gap and developed a fort, named Boonesborough Fort. The walls of the fort were 15 feet high, and 26 log cabins were constructed. This fort was the first of its kind to be developed on the west side of the Appalachians. Boone enjoyed friendly relations with the Native Indians. The native settlers raised hue & cry about the movement across the gap. They were of the view that Boone was guilty of violating the 1763 Proclamation line. Under this proclamation, the Native Americans had the right to own land on the west of Appalachians.
6. Native Indians abducted Boone’s daughter
Native and Cherokee Indians kidnapped Daniel Boone’s daughter, Jemima, along with two other teenagers in July 1776. Boone managed to find the abducted people by exploring the trail marks in 3 days, a fascinating Daniel Boone fact. He and his associates killed the captors.
7. Chief of a native Indian tribe adopted Boone
A group of native Indians captured Boone and his associates in February 1778. He made a passionate request to the tribal chief, Blackfish, for his release. The chief ordered their release, and he adopted Boone as his son. He was famous as “Big Turtle” among the tribe.
When he got a chance, he escaped from their custody because he got a hint that they were planning to attack Boonesborough. He traveled on foot for four days and successfully warned inhabitants of Boonesborough about the plan. They took precautionary measures and were able to repulse the attack.
8. He owned slaves
Slaves were an important part and parcel of Boone’s life. He gave particular importance to them because he was saved from many problems by slaves on various occasions, in particular, when the Native Indians attacked Boonesborough. In the late 1780s, Boone bought around seven slaves, including women. They used to work on the bar, owned by Boone.
9. Boone never wore coonskin cap
Boone was a professional hunter, but he never wore the coonskin cap. According to his son, Nathan, “his father used to groom with great focus and attention, and he didn’t have any love for the fur caps and didn’t wear any while he used to hunt, an interesting fact about Daniel Boone. He used to wear a hat, and he had a special affection for classic and broad-brimmed hats.”
10. Daniel Boone might have been reburied to another grave
Daniel Boone died in Missouri on September 20, 1826, and he was buried in the grave, next to his wife. During the last years of his life, Boone wished to participate in the war of 1812, and it was a few years before his death when he went for hunting. In 1845, it was decided to rebury the remains of Boone and Rebecca at Frankfort cemetery.
A ceremony was held with US officials and Kentucky governor. Later it surfaced that the wrong grave has been dug up because no one was able to spot Boone’s grave, although the forensic test of the skull was carried out. The head presumably was of Boone’s, but the forensic anthropologist said that it wasn’t in good condition to prove the assumption.
Conclusion
Boone’s personality has also been depicted in several TV series, radio programs, films, and sitcoms aired on various channels, including NBC. Boone in those serials has been shown as a great man, with a coonskin cap. In reality, he wasn’t a big man and never wore the coonskin cap. He has been portrayed as another frontiersman, Davy Crockett.
I hope that this article on Daniel Boon facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Historical People Facts Page!
