# Jesse James

> American outlaw, confederate guerrilla, and train robber

**Wikidata**: [Q213626](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q213626)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_James)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jesse-james

## Summary
Jesse James was an American outlaw, Confederate guerrilla, and train robber who lived from 1847 to 1882. He is best known as a prominent member of the James-Younger Gang, a criminal organization established in 1866. His legacy is defined by his violent activities during the American Civil War and his subsequent notoriety as a robber in the American West.

## Biography
- **Born:** September 5, 1847
- **Nationality:** American (United States)
- **Education:** No data available
- **Known for:** Outlawry, Confederate guerrilla warfare, and train robbery
- **Employer(s):** James-Younger Gang
- **Field(s):** Criminal activity, Guerrilla warfare

## Contributions
Jesse James is historically recognized for his role in the founding and operations of the James-Younger Gang, a criminal organization that began on February 13, 1866. His "contributions" to history were primarily centered on his leadership and participation in train robberies and raids. He served as a Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War, a conflict that shaped his later criminal activities. His life and actions have been documented in numerous biographical archives, including entries linked to his brother Frank James.

## FAQs
**When was Jesse James born and when did he die?**
Jesse James was born on September 5, 1847, and he died on April 3, 1882.

**What was Jesse James's full name?**
His full name was Jesse Woodson James, and he also used the alias Jesse W. James.

**What criminal organization was Jesse James associated with?**
He was a member of the James-Younger Gang, a criminal group involved in robbery and illicit activities that formed in 1866.

**What roles did Jesse James hold during his life?**
He was an American outlaw, a Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War, and a train robber.

## Why They Matter
Jesse James matters as a definitive figure of the American outlaw era and the post-Civil War landscape. His transition from a Confederate guerrilla to a leader of the James-Younger Gang highlights the continued violence and lawlessness that plagued the Reconstruction period. As a train robber, he became a legendary symbol of the Wild West, influencing countless cultural depictions of outlaws. His extensive documentation in global libraries and archives underscores his lasting significance in American history and folklore.

## Notable For
- **Member of the James-Younger Gang:** A key figure in this criminal organization starting in 1866.
- **Confederate Guerrilla:** Served as a guerrilla fighter for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
- **Train Robbery:** Notorious for robbing trains as an outlaw.
- **American Identity:** His life is a case study of the American outlaw archetype.
- **Archival Presence:** Subject of extensive bibliographic records across international library systems (VIAF, ISNI, LCCN).

## Body
### Personal Identity and Background
Jesse James was a human male and a citizen of the United States. His full legal name was Jesse Woodson James, though he was frequently referred to by the alias Jesse W. James. He was born on September 5, 1847, and his life came to an end on April 3, 1882. As an American, his life story is deeply intertwined with the turbulent history of the United States in the 19th century.

### Military Service and Conflict
Jesse James played a significant role in the American Civil War (1861–1865). During this conflict, he served as a Confederate guerrilla. This involvement in irregular warfare provided the tactical experience that would later define his criminal career. His participation in the war on the side of the Confederacy is a critical aspect of his historical biography.

### Criminal Career and the James-Younger Gang
Following the Civil War, Jesse James became an outlaw. He is most famously known for being a train robber. He was a member of the James-Younger Gang, a criminal organization that was officially established on February 13, 1866. The gang's industry was identified as crime, and they operated out of headquarters located in the United States. James's association with this gang is the primary source of his historical notoriety. Biographical records often link him with Frank James, suggesting a familial or close partnership within the gang's operations.

### Archival and Bibliographic Records
Jesse James is a heavily documented figure in global information systems. He is assigned a wide range of identifiers that facilitate his tracking in academic and library databases. These include the ISNI number 0000000073733978, the VIAF ID 27874494, and the Library of Congress Control Number n50028970. He is also cataloged in the German National Library (GND) under the ID 119132028, the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) as 145321615, and the National Library of Australia (NLA) as 078715067. Additional identifiers include the CIK 000406861, the BNF ID 145321615, and the NLA ID 078715067. His life is the subject of specific biographical entries such as "Jesse-James-American-outlaw" and "Jesse-James-and-Frank-James." His legacy is further preserved through various cultural references, including comic books and media portrayals.

## References

1. LIBRIS. 2012
2. Find a Grave
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. National Archives Catalog
6. SNAC
7. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
8. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
9. GeneaStar
10. Roglo
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013