David Crockett (1786-1836) was an American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. He is often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier". Crockett grew up in East Tennessee, where he gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. After a tumultuous career in politics, he infamously volunteered to fight in the Battle of the Alamo and was killed. Crockett became famous during his lifetime for larger-than-life exploits, and after his death he continued to be credited with acts of mythical proportion.