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Home » The West

Dick Brewer Facts - The Leader of the Lincoln County Regulators

Published: Jul 21, 2019 · Modified: Nov 7, 2023 by Russell Yost · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Dick Brewer was an American cowboy, outlaw, lawman, and famous gunslinger. He founded the Regulators to avenge the death of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War. He rode alongside Billy the Kid.

Dick Brewer
Jump to:
  • Early Years
  • Lincoln County War

Early Years

Dick Brewer was born on February 19, 1850, in St. Albans, Vermont. Around the age of four, his family moved to Boaz, Wisconsin, and later he moved to Missouri.

As he got older, he moved to Lincoln County, New Mexico, and bought a farm. He began working for Lawrence Murphy but left that job to work for John Tunstall, owner of one of the largest farms in the area.

Lincoln County War

Brewer's relationship with John Tunstall was short-lived when his boss was gunned down by a posse connected to Sheriff William Brady. After the murder, Dick Brewer founded the Regulators, which included Billy the Kid and Jose Chavez y Chavez. These men were ordered to serve warrants on the men who killed John Tunstall.

Brewer became close with Billy the Kid. He was older than Billy and often assumed leadership of the gang, especially during the early stages of the Lincoln County War Billy respected Dick, and the two were close up until Brewer's death. He was the unquestioned leader of the Regulators.

The confirmed killings claimed to have been carried out by the Regulators during Brewer's period as a leader were those of Sheriff William Brady, William Morton, deputy George W. Hindman, lawman/outlaw Frank Baker, Buckshot Roberts, and fellow Regulator William McCloskey, whom the Regulators believed to have betrayed them.

Brewer did not agree with the killing of Sheriff Brady and Deputy Hindman but supported and participated in the other murders.

Although most of those killed by the Regulators throughout their existence were publicly credited to Billy the Kid, most folks agree that there are doubts as to whether he was the actual killer in most cases and agree that often their victims were killed during a shootout, with many members of the Regulators firing at the same time, including Brewer.

It was, however, Billy the Kid who became known and through whose notoriety the fame of the Regulators spread.

Dick Brewer was killed by an old buffalo hunter, Buckshot Roberts, during the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills, on April 4, 1878, during which five other Regulators were wounded.

Buckshot Roberts was also killed during the gunfight, either by a shot fired by George Coe, whose finger was shot off by Roberts, or Charlie Bowdre.

His death allowed Billy the Kid to take a stronger role within the Regulators.

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