Biography

Notorious western outlaw who fought during the Civil War with a Confederate guerrilla band called Quantrill's Raiders, responsible for the infamous burning of Lawrence, Kansas, and the massacre of many of its residents. Quantrill's tactics were so vicious and ruthless, including the torture, mutilation and execution of prisoners, that the unit was eventually disowned by Confederate authorities. Its members were pursued relentlessly by Union troops, and most of them--including leader William Quantrill, a former schoolteacher--were hunted down and killed (one of them, a sadistic murderer named "Bloody Bill" Anderson, was so feared that after he was shot by pursuing Union cavalrymen, an officer whipped out his sword and beheaded him). Jesse and his brother Frank James were among the band's few survivors and later formed a gang that was also known for its ruthlessness and indiscriminate killings. A "dead or alive" reward was placed on the brothers. Jesse was eventually murdered by two members of his own gang for the reward, and Frank surrendered to the authorities and served a stretch in prison.

James' mother Zerelda Samuel wrote the following epitaph for him: "In Loving Memory of my Beloved Son, Murdered by a Traitor and Coward Whose Name is not Worthy to Appear Here".

Father of Jesse James Jr., who played him in two movies.

He killed 17 people and was involved in the deaths of another 180.

He and brother Frank James were extremely protective of their younger half brother Archie who was born mentally handicapped. The two would often react violently to any taunts regarding their brother.