Jesse Wooson James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. After his death, he became a legendary figure of the Wild West. Recent historical studies demonstrate he should be considered part of the Confederate veterans' guerrilla insurgency after the Civil War. He is at times described as having been a gunfighter, but he was little more than an outlaw.