According to his biography, William Tell was a confederate of Werner Stauffacher, who was offended Habsburg rule. An Austrian ruler, Gessler had raised a pole with his hat on the top, as a symbol of his tyranny where every countryman in Uri was forced to bow before the pole as part of reverence. The legend of William Tell sprung up while he and his son walked past the pole without bowing. For the impudence towards the Royal hat, Tell was compelled to shoot an apple off his son's head with his crossbow. Tell with his excellent marksmanship crossed the perilous situation in a single attempt. Gessler, ho was impressed in the shot, asked Tell what the second arrow was for. Tell was reluctant to answer about the second arrow taken from his quiver. After getting promise from Gessler to spare William's life, he replied that the second one was for Gessler's heart if the first bow hurt the boy. For such arrogance Tell was awarded lifetime imprisonment. He was shackled and was brought to Gessler's boat aiming the dungeon in the castle at Küssnacht. But the Lake Lucerne concealed a storm enough to sink the boat. Tell, the mundane with the lake was unshackled to steer the boat safely. He enigmatically jumped to a rock and pushed the boat back to the stormy water. Tell assassinated Gessler with his second bow in a boulevard between Immensee and Küssnacht. Tell chiselled the formation of the Swiss Confederation. The Habsburg emperors of Austria were knelt down by the courage and thirst to the liberty of William Tell and his followers in Switzerland.William Tell, the popular legend of Switzerland died in 1354, while saving a child from drowning in the Schächenbach river in Uri.

William Tell's picture is inscribed on the back of Swiss coins, and also there is a monument for William Tell in Altdorf (Uri). Centuries ago, Chronicle there was a Chapel after his name near Sisikon, where he have escaped from Gessler's boat. 'White Book of Sarnen' was a Chronicle which praised the saga of William Tell.Tell's Apple-Shot, escape from Gessler and his rebellion towards tyranny made him the Hero of Switzerland. During the period of World War II, William Tell is considered as the prominent insurgent against despotism in both Switzerland and Europe. So his fame is not circumscribed in Switzerland but also in Europe. Another William Tell is a musician of recent times who is engaged to Lauren Conrad having net worth of 25 milion USD.

The legend of William Tell had become the foundation of an unfinished film namely 'The Story of William Tell'. It was directed by Jack Cardiff, and the film is under cinemascope. If finished, it would be a beautiful pictorial representation of such a brave epic. William Tell Overture is a song opera dedicated to this legend and also, his story has been incorporated into an online game.