John Henry Holliday, better known as Doc Holliday, was a famous gunslinger, American gambler, and dentist. He was born in Griffin, Georgia, on August 14, 1851, and died in Glenwood Springs, Colorado on November 8, 1887.
Holliday is best known for his role in the events leading up to and following the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.
Holliday was born into a wealthy family and attended dental school at the University of Pennsylvania. However, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis at a young age and was forced to leave school. He moved to the American West in search of a drier climate that would help him with his health.
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In the Wild West, Holliday became a professional gambler and gunfighter. He was known for his skill with a gun and his quick wit. He also had a reputation for being a heavy drinker and a gambler.
In 1881, Holliday joined forces with Wyatt Earp and his brothers in Tombstone. The Earps were involved in a feud with the Clanton gang, and Holliday fought alongside them in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The Earps won the gunfight, but Holliday was wounded.
After the gunfight, Holliday continued to gamble and fight in the West. He died of tuberculosis in 1887 at the age of 36.
Holliday is a popular figure in Western folklore. He has been portrayed in numerous books, movies, and television shows.
He is often portrayed as a romantic hero, a skilled gunfighter, and a charming gambler. However, Holliday was also a complex figure with a dark side. He was a heavy drinker and a gambler, and he was often violent.
Family Overview
Doc Holliday came from a traditional family.
His father was a military man who fought in three wars. He also was a pharmacist and southern planter.
His mother was from a large family but seemed to have health issues that were passed on to her children. She died of tuberculosis, which is what Doc would die of, and her adopted son and daughter died.
Doc Holliday had a relationship with a prostitute named Maria. The two never married but traveled together until his death.
He lived a rough life and died young.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Henry Burroughs Holliday (1819 - 1893) - He was a military veteran who saw action in the Cherokee War, Mexican-American War, and eventually the Civil War.
Alice Jane McKey (1829 - 1866) - She came from a large family and married a war veteran. The couple had two children together.
Spouse:
Maria Izabella Magdoina Katherine Horony (1850 - 1940) - She was born in Hungary and would be the companion of Doc Holliday. The two had a violent relationship, with her once shooting a gun into his mattress while he was sleeping and him grabbing the gun from her and hitting her over the head. She would become a well-known character of the Wild West and would live until she was 90.
Children: None
Siblings:
Francisco E'Dalgo (1835 - 1873) - He was the adopted son of Henry, who found him during the Mexican War. He married and had many children, but unfortunately died at a young age.
Martha Eleanora Holliday (1849 - 1850) - She died as an infant, possibly of tuberculosis.