Patrick Floyd Garrett was an American lawman and frontiersman best known for his role in the Old West as the sheriff who killed Billy the Kid. His life and career were deeply intertwined with the lawless frontier, where he served as a sheriff in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and later as a customs agent. Beyond his law enforcement work, Garrett also worked as a bartender and buffalo hunter, experiences that shaped his understanding of the rugged territories he patrolled.
Born in Cusseta, Alabama, Garrett grew up on a Louisiana plantation before venturing west as a young man. He worked as a cowboy in Texas and later as a buffalo hunter, an occupation that led to a fatal confrontation with another hunter over a dispute. After relocating to New Mexico, Garrett opened a saloon and became known locally as "Juan Largo" due to his imposing height. His personal life included two marriages, the first ending tragically with his wife's death within a year, and the second producing nine children. Garrett's legacy remains tied to his frontier justice and his pivotal role in one of the most famous episodes of the Wild West.