Plummer, Henry (1837-1864)

US bandit who became a legendary Wild West figure. Born in Maine, Plummer became the marshal of Nevada City, California (1856), but turned to banditry after he murdered a man there. He organized a bandit group that terrorized the Washington Territory and southern Montana (1862-64). He masqueraded as the sheriff of Bannack, Montana, before being apprehended and hanged by a group of vigilantes.

Recent historians have argued that Plummer was not given a fair trial and was the victim of a ruthless vigilante group.