Bard the Bowman

A fictional character in The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Bard the Bowman of Esgaroth was one of the most skilled archers among Men. Bard was able to slay the dragon Smaug after a tip from the old thrush (who had overheard Bilbo Baggins' description of Smaug) had revealed an unarmored spot on the dragon's underside. Bard claimed a twelfth share of the reward for the dragon's death, which he gave to the Master of Esgaroth to rebuild the town which Smaug had destroyed in his fall, but the Master stole the money and ran off into the wild where he died. After the rebuilding of Dale and Esgaroth they were united as a single Kingdom with Bard as its first king.