Richard Brewer (January 10, 1852 – April 4, 1878), also known as Dick Brewer, was an American cowboy. He is said by many western historians and experts to be the real leader of Billy the Kid's band.

Brewer was born in Vermont. At the age of two, he and his family moved to Wisconsin. Later on, Brewer would move on to live in Missouri before arriving at Lincoln county , New Mexico.

Brewer tried farming as a profession, and he bought a farm in Lincoln county with this in mind. By 1876, he was working as a foreman for John Tunstall , who was owner of one the largest farms in the area.

James Dolan, who had been established in Lincoln before Tunstall, saw Tunstall as an opponent and rival, rather than seeing him merely as a competitor. As a consequence, the Tunstall-McSween versus Dolan war started. According to historians, this violent war was instigated by Dolan

On February 18, 1878, a turning point in the rivalry happened when Tunstall was murdered.

After Tunstall's murder, "The Regulators", a group of forty five gun happy men that also included Billy and Jose Chavez y Chavez, was formed. The forty five gunmen who were chosen were, according to legend, among the best killers in the west. Brewer allegedly formed the group, and he was himself a member of it.

Richard Brewer established a bond of friendship with Billy the Kid, with Chavez and the rest of Billy the Kid's gang, and he was often accompanied by gang members. Being one of the founders of "The Regulators", Brewer sometimes assumed a leadership role when around Billy, Chavez and the rest of their company. This made Billy a little uncomfortable, but the pair remained friends until Brewer's death.

Among the killings claimed to have been carried out by "The Regulators" were those of William Brady and Frank Baker.

Richard Brewer was killed by Buckshot Roberts during a duel, on April 8 of 1878.

In the 1989 movie, Young Guns, Brewer was played by Charlie Sheen.

External Links

• Page about Brewer on British website