THE IRISH King of New Mexico died 170 years ago in Contra Costa County, California, and you’ve probably never heard of him.

The King in question was an Irish man named James Kirker from the tiny village of Killead, near Crumlin, not far from the International Airport.

Kirker’s life is controversial, and he is remembered as much for his bloody deeds, as he was for his scouting and trapping feats. In Kirker’s storied life he practiced many professions, most of them unseemly, from pirate, trapper, mountain man, mercenary, soldier, outlaw, explorer and scalp hunter.

Full story here.