Butch Cassidy
American outlaw and leader of the Wild Bunch.
Robert LeRoy Parker, known universally as Butch Cassidy, was an American cowboy who became a notorious train and bank robber, leading the "Wild Bunch" outlaw gang in the Old West. Born on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory, he was the first of thirteen children born to English immigrant parents who had converted to Mormonism. He grew up on the family ranch near Circleville, Utah. As a teenager, he left home and, while working on a dairy ranch, met cattle thief Mike Cassidy. After a brief stint as a butcher’s apprentice in Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory, he acquired the nickname "Butch" (from "butcher") and later adopted the surname Cassidy in honor of his mentor. His first criminal act was minor: around 1880, he broke into a closed clothier shop, stole a pair of jeans and a pie, and left an IOU, but was acquitted at trial. After working ranches, he moved to Telluride, Colorado, where he partnered with Matt Warner to race a horse. On June 24, 1889, Cassidy, Warner, and two McCarty brothers robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, escaping with about $21,000 to a hideout called Robbers Roost in Utah. In 1890, he bought a ranch near Dubois, Wyoming, using the "Reverse-E, Box, E" brand, though the ranch likely served as a front for outlaw activities. In 1894, he was arrested in Lander, Wyoming, for horse theft and possibly running a protection racket, serving eighteen months in Wyoming State Prison before being pardoned in January 1896. After release, he formed the Wild Bunch, recruiting associates like Elzy Lay, Harvey Logan, and eventually Harry Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid. On August 13, 1896, the gang robbed a bank in Montpelier, Idaho, for about $7,000. In April 1897, Cassidy and Lay ambushed a payroll shipment at Castle Gate, Utah, stealing a sack of silver coins. The relentless pursuit by the Pinkerton agency forced Cassidy, Longabaugh, and Longabaugh’s girlfriend Etta Place to flee the U.S. They traveled to Argentina, then Bolivia, where Cassidy and Longabaugh are believed to have been killed in a shootout with the Bolivian Army in November 1908, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
- born
- April 13, 1866, Beaver, Utah Territory
- died
- November 7, 1908, Bolivia (believed killed in shootout with Bolivian Army)
- field
- Outlaw, cowboy, train and bank robber
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Leader of the Wild Bunch; train and bank robberies; flight to South America with
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Robert LeRoy Parker was born on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory, the first of thirteen children of English immigrants Maximillian Parker and Ann Campbell Gillies. He grew up on his parents' ranch near Circleville. As a teenager, he fled home and, while working on a dairy ranch, met cattle thief Mike Cassidy. He later worked on several ranches and had a brief apprenticeship with a butcher in Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory, where he got his nickname 'Butch' (from 'butcher'), to which he soon added the last name Cassidy in honor of his old friend and mentor. His first criminal offense was minor: around 1880 he broke into a clothier shop, stole a pair of jeans and some pie, and left an IOU; he was acquitted by a jury. Cassidy's first bank robbery took place on June 24, 1889, when he, Matt Warner, and two of the McCarty brothers robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, stealing around $21,000. In 1890, he purchased a ranch on the outskirts of Dubois, Wyoming, possibly a façade for clandestine activities. In early 1894, he became romantically involved with rancher and outlaw Ann Bassett. That same year, he was arrested at Lander, Wyoming, for stealing horses and possibly for running a protection racket, and served eighteen months of a two-year sentence in the Wyoming State Prison in Laramie, being released and pardoned in January 1896 by Governor William Alford Richards.
Reader's Guide
Butch Cassidy's significance lies in his role as the leader of the Wild Bunch, a loose association of outlaws that robbed banks and trains across the American West. His criminal career, spanning more than a decade, was marked by a series of high-profile robberies, including the June 2, 1899 Union Pacific Overland Flyer train robbery near Wilcox, Wyoming, which earned the gang great notoriety and resulted in a massive manhunt. On August 29, 1900, Cassidy, Longabaugh, and others robbed Union Pacific train No. 3 near Tipton, Wyoming, breaking Cassidy's earlier promise to the governor of Wyoming and ending any chance for amnesty. Pursued by the Pinkerton detective agency, he fled to South America with Harry Longabaugh and Etta Place. Their deaths in Bolivia in November 1908 remain uncertain, contributing to the legend. Cassidy's life has been extensively dramatized in film, television, and literature, and he remains one of the best-known icons of the 'Wild West' mythos in modern times.
Did You Know?
- Cassidy's first criminal offense was around 1880, when he broke into a clothier shop, stole a pair of jeans and some pie, and left an IOU; he was acquitted by a jury.
- His first bank robbery was on June 24, 1889, when he, Matt Warner, and two of the McCarty brothers stole around $21,000 from the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride.
- Cassidy served eighteen months of a two-year sentence in Wyoming State Prison for stealing horses and was pardoned in January 1896 by Governor William Alford Richards.
- The Wild Bunch's June 2, 1899 robbery of a Union Pacific Overland Flyer near Wilcox, Wyoming, triggered a massive manhunt and resulted in the killing of Sheriff Joe Hazen.
- Cassidy, Longabaugh, and Etta Place traveled first to Argentina and then to Bolivia, where Cassidy and Longabaugh are believed to have been killed in a shootout with the Bolivian Army in November 1908.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Butch Cassidy?
Butch Cassidy was the nickname of Robert LeRoy Parker, an American cowboy born in Beaver, Utah Territory in 1866, who became one of the most recognized outlaws of the Old West. He led a criminal gang called the Wild Bunch and carried out train and bank robberies across the American West for over a decade.
What was the Wild Bunch?
The Wild Bunch was a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cassidy that specialized in robbing trains and banks throughout the late 1890s and early 1900s. The group operated across the American West until relentless law enforcement pressure forced them to disband and scatter.
Why did Butch Cassidy flee the United States?
Sustained pursuit by law enforcement, particularly the Pinkerton detective agency, made it increasingly impossible for Cassidy and his gang to operate safely on American soil. He ultimately escaped to South America in 1900 alongside his close associate Harry Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid, and Longabaugh's girlfriend Etta Place.
How did Butch Cassidy die?
Butch Cassidy is believed to have been killed on November 7, 1908, in a shootout with the Bolivian Army while living in South America. His exact fate remains one of the enduring mysteries of the Old West, as no confirmed body was ever recovered.
What is the connection between Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?
The Sundance Kid was Harry Longabaugh, a fellow outlaw who became Butch Cassidy's closest partner and co-leader of the Wild Bunch. The two were inseparable throughout their criminal careers and fled to Bolivia together, where they met their presumed end.
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