James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876)—known as "Wild Bill" Hickok—was a folk character of the American Old West. Some of his exploits as reported at the time were fiction, but his skill as a gunfighter and gambler provided the basis for his fame, along with his reputation as a lawman.
Hickok was born and raised on a farm in rural Illinois. He went west at age 18 as a fugitive from justice, first working as a stagecoach driver, then as a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas and Nebraska. He fought (and spied) for the Union Army during the American Civil War and gained publicity after the war as a scout, marksman, actor and professional gambler. Hickok was involved in several notable shootouts.
He was shot from behind and killed while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory (now South Dakota) by an unsuccessful gambler, Jack McCall. The card hand which he supposedly held at the time of his death (aces and eights) has come to be known as the "Dead Man's Hand".
James Butler may refer to:
James Butler (1651–1696) was an English politician. He was Member of Parliament for Arundel from 1679 to 1685 and 1690. Butler was a member of the wealthy Butler family who were influential figures in the county of Sussex. Butler himself was from Amberley, West Sussex.
James Butler (1680–17 May 1741), was a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Arundel (9 May 1705 – 4 May 1708) and Sussex (17 Feb 1715 - 5 Apr 1722).
James Butler was the son of James Butler of Amberley Castle. He may have been educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He bought the estate of Warminghurst in 1702, from William Penn. A Whig supporter, he entered parliament for Arundel (as his father had done before him). His son John was also an MP.