Daniel Boone, American Explorer and Frontiersman, Best-Known Pioneer of the Era

Although frontiersman Daniel Boone was not very good at business, and lost nearly 100,000 acres of land he had developed because he improperly filed the titles, we can learn from him because he was fearless, and constantly tread into uncharted territory. This is significant, because during that time, Native Americans fiercely defended their lands, so Boone took great risks exploring new territories. Boone guided settlers to establish the first American settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains in what is now known as Kentucky.

Name: Daniel Boone

Birth Date: November 2, 1734 – September 26, 1820

Job Functions: American Explorer and Frontiersman

Fields: Exploration

Known For: Most famous American frontiersman in history

Influenced By: John Finley intrigued Boone with his many stories about the wilds of Kentucky. 

Daniel Boone’s Steps to Success 

• Led an active childhood trapping, fishing, and camping in the forest.
• Became an excellent hunter and marksman after he received a rifle for his 12^th birthday, and developed survival skills for the woods.
• John Findley told Boone about the Kentucky wilderness, which greatly influenced his career.
• In 1755, he served as a teamster (a wagon driver) and blacksmith for General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War.
• In 1767, led first expedition as far westward as the area of Floyd County, Kentucky. In 1769, with John Finley and four others, he cleared a trail through the Cumberland Gap that soon became a highway to the frontier.
• As an agent for Richard Henderson and his Transylvania Company, Boone led the first group of colonists (30 settlers) to Kentucky, reaching the site Boonesborough in April 1775. They connected Indian trails and buffalo paths and prepared the region for settlement, creating Wilderness Road. They also built Boonesborough fort at a site by the Kentucky River.
• Became leader of the Kentucky settlement as hunter, surveyor, and “Indian fighter”.
• Held many government positions, including lieutenant colonel of Fayette County, legislative representative, and sheriff (Elected to the state legislature in 1781, 1787, and 1791). In 1786 he moved to Maysville, Kentucky, and was elected to the legislature there.
• In 1789 Boone moved to Point Pleasant on the Ohio River, where he supplied meat and grain to the U.S. military.
• In 1789, was appointed lieutenant colonel of Kanawha County and its legislative delegate in 1791.
• Bad things happen to everyone, but the trick is how you respond to adversity: Boone became one of the wealthiest men in Kentucky in terms of land – nearly 100,000 acres. However, he improperly filed his land titles and he lost his land in Kentucky.
  • In 1799, Boone led a group of settlers into Missouri at the invitation of the Spanish governor, who granted him 850 acres of land near St. Louis. He lost this land when the Louisiana Purchase ($15 million) in 1803 brought the area under U.S. control (See Booked for Mentoring: Review – A Short History of the World by J. Milnor Dorey). Congress reversed its decision in 1814, but Boone sold the land to repay his debts. (In 1780, Boone had been robbed and lost $20,000 he had collected from settlers to purchase land warrants).

Biggest Accomplishments Why Daniel Boone's Contribution Matters

Daniel Boone suffered many setbacks in his life yet he always bounced back – acted dignified and with integrity in the face of great misfortune. His daughter and two other girls were captured by Indians and he rescued them. Boone himself was captured by Indians and he freed himself. His son Israel was killed and his oldest son James was captured, tortured and killed. Boone was robbed of $20,000 which settlers gave him to get land warrants. 

Lessons from Daniel Boone 

1. Most of us play it safe, but Boone was constantly willing to go into uncharted territory.
2. Although Boone operated several businesses, he was most comfortable hunting and exploring. What do you enjoy doing the most?
3. In 1810, Boone returned to Kentucky to pay off his outstanding debts and was left with 50 cents. 

Noteworthy 

• The famous poet, Lord Byron (Ada Lovelace’s father), wrote about Daniel Boone in the 1823 poem Don Juan. Byron devoted seven verses to Boone, which won the explorer notoriety three years after his death.
• The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore is an exaggerated version of the story of Daniel Boone rescuing his daughter when she was captured by Indians. 

Related Posts 

Wisdom of Life: Ada Lovelace, First Computer Programmer 

Sources Cited/Referenced 

UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography

Westward Expansion Reference Library

Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History

Gale Encyclopedia of US Economic History

Science and Its Times

Encyclopedia of the New American Nation

 Daniel Boone: The Complete Series Who Was Daniel Boone? Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer Boone: A Biography (Shannon Ravenel Books (Paperback)) Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer (An Owl Book) Daniel Boone's Own Story & The Adventures of Daniel Boone Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness (Landmark Books # 21)