James "Grizzly" Adams

James "Grizzly" Adams

John "Grizzly" Adams (also known as, James Capen Adams, Grizzly Adams) (1812–1860) was a famous California mountain man and trainer of grizzly bears and other wild animals that he captured for menageries, zoological gardens and circuses. When Theodore H. Hittell met John Adams in late 1856 at John's Mountaineer Museum in San Francisco, California, John first represented himself as William Adams, then a short time later told Hittell (also incorrectly) that his name was James Capen Adams; he maintained this alias into 1860. He also told Hittell that he was born on October 20, 1807, in Maine.

In the 1970s Schick Sunn Classic brought fame to the historical legend of 'Grizzly Adams' when it produced the highly successful motion picture, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams starring Dan Haggerty. An NBC TV series of the same name starring Haggerty followed, also realizing great success while further delivering iconic status to the 'Grizzly Adams' moniker. Eventually the successful Grizzly Adams brand was trademarked by the film and television series creator, Chuck Sellier. After Sellier's passing, the brand franchise became the property of Grizzly Adams LLC. It is represented by C3 Entertainment in Los Angeles, a recognized brand licensing agency.

The movie and TV series used the name James Capen Adams as incorrectly conveyed by Hittell. The real John 'Grizzly' Adams did not have a middle name, however, his mother's maiden surname was Capen, and he did have a younger brother who was actually named James Capen Adams. This is confirmed and clarified by Dillon and McClung. Information on his Massachusetts death record (Vol. 139, p. 225) also indicates that his name was John and gives an estimated birth year of 1813, based on age at death (48 years). His Find-a-Grave memorial shows his first name to be, John, his birth date October 22, 1812. and his date of death as October 25, 1860, age 48 years.