Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803– 1870) was a Texas cattleman from whom the term Maverick originated. In the west it was a custom and still is to some extent to brand your cattle so that you know they are yours. Because he thought that branding was cruel he refused to brand his cattle and he would scour Texas for unbranded cattle and pen them up and claim they were his even if they we not.
Unbranded cattle were traditionally considered the property of the first person who found and branded them. The term was originally meant to apply to an unbranded cow which was known as “A Maverick“ but today is usually applies to someone who plays by their own rules.
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