Historical Criminals · Head-to-head
Ned Kelly vs Billy the Kid
Yes — based on their recorded years, Ned Kelly (1854–1880) and Billy the Kid (1859–1881) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Ned Kelly
An Australian bushranger and gang leader, known for wearing homemade armor during his final shootout with police.
Key achievements
- Led a bushranger gang across rural Victoria, Australia
- Became known for wearing homemade bulletproof armor during his final standoff
- Remains one of the most recognized figures of Australia's bushranger era
- His life and capture became a defining story of colonial-era Australian history
Fast fact
Ned Kelly was captured and later executed following his final confrontation with police in 1880.
Full profile of Ned Kelly →Billy the Kid
An American outlaw of the Old West, linked to nine killings and notable for his role in New Mexico's Lincoln County War.
Key achievements
- Became one of the most recorded outlaws and gunfighters of the American Old West
- Played a central role in New Mexico's Lincoln County War
- Was linked to nine killings during a short and violent life
- Became a lasting figure in American frontier folklore
Fast fact
Billy the Kid's given name was Henry McCarty, though he used several aliases during his life.
Full profile of Billy the Kid →Who lived first, Ned Kelly or Billy the Kid?
Ned Kelly (1854–1880) lived first, before Billy the Kid (1859–1881), based on their recorded years.
Were Ned Kelly and Billy the Kid contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Ned Kelly (1854–1880) and Billy the Kid (1859–1881) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Ned Kelly and Billy the Kid have in common?
Both Ned Kelly and Billy the Kid are grouped among our Historical Criminals figures and lived during the Age of Revolutions.