Frank and Jesse James were two of the most notorious outlaws of the American Old West. Born in the 1840s in Missouri, the James brothers gained infamy for their daring bank and train robberies during the post-Civil War era.

Frank James was the older of the two, known for his cunning and strategic planning of the gang’s heists. Jesse, the younger brother, was the more charismatic and violent of the pair, earning a reputation for his ruthlessness. Together, they formed one of the most successful and feared outlaw gangs of the time.

Despite their criminal exploits, the James brothers also cultivated a Robin Hood-like image, positioning themselves as enemies of the corrupt railroad and banking institutions that many felt had exploited the common people. This helped them gain a degree of folk hero status, especially in the South where they were seen as defiant symbols against the Northern establishment.

The James gang’s reign of terror finally came to an end in the 1880s as they were tracked down and either killed or captured by law enforcement. Frank surrendered in 1882 and was eventually acquitted of his crimes, while Jesse was shot and killed by a member of his own gang in 1882. Their legacy as daring outlaws has endured in American popular culture to this day.