FAQ

Mostly, but with some exceptions. In actuality, his horrendous treatment by Sir George or any other Englishmen here was not true from most historical accounts. Although he appeared on the London stage, the scenes with the bear in a circus show are likely made up. Other parts of the storyline should not be taken literally. The fight he had with the bear, if indeed one occurred, would not have been done with a grizzly bear as an opponent, since there were none in Europe and their American range would not have extended to the Eastern seaboard either. Other minor goofs appear as well, but generally speaking the writers and producers got most of the history right.