Pontiac, Odawa War Chief

by British Library

Title

Pontiac, Odawa War Chief

Artist

British Library

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Image taken from page 275 of "The Story of the American Indian his origin, development, decline and destiny" by Elbridge Streeter Brooks, 1887. Pontiac (1720 - April 20, 1769) was an Ottawa war chief who became famous for his role in Pontiac's Rebellion (1763-1766). After the French and Indian War, Native American allies of the defeated French found themselves increasingly dissatisfied with the trading practices of the British. Widespread attacks against British forts and Anglo-American settlements in the Ohio Country soon followed. The degree to which Pontiac personally influenced events beyond the Detroit region has been variously interpreted. Although the British had successfully pacified the uprising in the Ohio Country, British military dominance was tenuous, and they decided to negotiate with the Ottawa leader. Pontiac, empowered by the attention paid him by the British, asserted more power among the Indians of the region than he actually possessed. Local rivalries flared up. Pontiac was murdered on April 20, 1769, at the French village of Cahokia by a Peoria Indian, perhaps in retaliation for an earlier attack by Pontiac.

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June 14th, 2016

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