Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley, born Phoebe Ann Mosey on August 13, 1860, in Darke County, Ohio, grew up in poor conditions. Already at the age of eight, she began hunting to support her family after her father's death. Her incredible precision with the rifle allowed her to pay off her mother's mortgage by selling game to local stores and restaurants.

Her career as a professional shooter began when, at 15, she defeated the famous shooter Frank Butler in a shooting competition. Butler had challenged local shooters, and to his great surprise, he was beaten by a young girl. This led not only to a professional collaboration between them but also to marriage the following year.

In 1885, Oakley became part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, where she received the nickname "Little Sure Shot" from Chief Sitting Bull. In the show, she demonstrated incredible shooting skills such as:

• Shooting through a playing card set on edge at a distance of 27 meters

• Hitting tossed coins in the air

• Shooting the ash off a cigarette that Frank held between his lips

• Breaking glass balls thrown in the air

During a European tour in 1887, she shot the hat off Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany at his own request. Many years later, when World War I broke out, she allegedly joked: "I wish I had aimed a little lower."

Oakley's career lasted over 30 years, and even after a serious train accident in 1901, she continued to perform and set new records. Her last shooting exhibition took place in 1922, just four years before her death. During her lifetime, she is said to have taught over 15,000 women to shoot, as she believed shooting skills gave women independence and protection.

Sources:

• Kasper, Shirl. Annie Oakley. University of Oklahoma Press, 1992.

• Riley, Glenda. The Life and Legacy of Annie Oakley. University of Oklahoma Press, 2001.

• Annie Oakley Foundation

• PBS - American Experience: Annie Oakley