Buffalo Bill was the nickname of William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846 – January 10, 1917), an American soldier, buffalo hunter, and showman who became one of the most famous figures of the American Old West
. He earned the nickname "Buffalo Bill" in 1867 during a buffalo hunting contest to supply meat for railroad workers, where he killed 69 buffalo in eight hours, outshooting his opponent
. Cody worked as a Pony Express rider at age 15 and served as a scout for the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1872 for his service as a civilian scout, though it was rescinded in 1917 and later reinstated in 1989
. Buffalo Bill gained international fame by creating and performing in "Buffalo Bill's Wild West," a traveling show that dramatized frontier life, cowboy themes, and Indian Wars. The show toured extensively across the United States and Europe, popularizing the image of the American West and making him one of the world's first global celebrities
. He was born in Iowa but spent much of his youth in Kansas, where his family moved. After his father's death when Cody was young, he took on responsibilities early and became known for his skills as a horseman, hunter, and scout
. Buffalo Bill died in Denver, Colorado, in 1917, and is buried near Golden, Colorado, where his legacy is commemorated by museums and festivals
