Joaquin Murrieta
Joaquin Murrieta Carrillo (sometimes misspelled Murieta or Murietta) (c. 1829 – July 25, 1853), also called the Robin Hood of the West or the Robin Hood of El Dorado, was a Mexican figure of disputed historicity. The novel The Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta: The Celebrated California Bandit (1854) by John Rollin Ridge is ostensibly his story.
Joaquin Murrieta | |
|---|---|
Artist's portrayal of Murrieta | |
| Born | c. 1829 Álamos, Sonora, Mexico |
| Died | July 25, 1853 (aged 23–24) Mariposa County, California |
| Cause of death | Gun fight in Mariposa |
| Resting place | Hornitos, California |
| Other names | The Robin Hood of El Dorado, The Mexican Robin Hood |
| Occupation(s) | Vaquero, gold miner, outlaw |
| Known for | Outlaw leader during time period of California Gold Rush |
| Spouse | Rosa Feliz or Rosita Carmela or Rosita Carmel Feliz |
Legends subsequently arose about a notorious outlaw in California during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, but evidence for a historical Murrieta is scarce. Contemporary documents record testimony in 1852 concerning a minor horse thief of that name. Newspapers reported bandido named Joaquin, who robbed and killed several people during the same time. A California Ranger named Harry Love was assigned to track down Murrieta and was said to have brought his head in for the bounty.
The popular legend of Joaquin Murrieta was that he was a forty-niner, a gold miner and a vaquero (cowboy) from Sonora. Peace loving, he was driven to revenge after his brother and he were falsely accused of stealing a mule. His brother was hanged and Murrieta was horse-whipped. His young wife was raped, and in one version, she died in Murrieta's arms. Swearing revenge, he hunted down the men who had violated her. He embarked on a short but violent career to kill his Anglo tormentors. The state of California offered a reward up to $5,000 for Murrieta, "dead or alive."