Tanacharison "Half King" was born in c. 1700 around Buffalo, New York. He was an American Indian leader who played a very important role during the first few months of the French and Indian War. As a child, he was taken captive by the French, but was later adopted into the Seneca Tribe. He claimed that the French "boiled and ate his father".
Half King emerged into the leader of the Mingos, people who migrated to Logstown, in 1747. He represented the Six Nations in 1752 at the Treaty of Logstown. Although he was representing the six nations, he made it very clear they needed the Council's ratification to make things official.
On May 27, 1754, Half King got word of a nearby French camp and immediately asked for Washington's help to attack the camp. Washington then sent 40 men instantly to go assist the Half King's men. At dawn, Washington showed up, they all ambushed the fort, and the French surrendered almost instantly. The French commander, Jumonville, was captured and during his interrogation, the Half King split his skull with his tomahawk, and then washed his hands in his brains.
Half King then moved all of his people east of the Aughwick Valley, where he would no longer take any part of the war. He died of pneumonia on October 4, 1754 on the farm of John Harris in Paxtang, which is now Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Half King emerged into the leader of the Mingos, people who migrated to Logstown, in 1747. He represented the Six Nations in 1752 at the Treaty of Logstown. Although he was representing the six nations, he made it very clear they needed the Council's ratification to make things official.
On May 27, 1754, Half King got word of a nearby French camp and immediately asked for Washington's help to attack the camp. Washington then sent 40 men instantly to go assist the Half King's men. At dawn, Washington showed up, they all ambushed the fort, and the French surrendered almost instantly. The French commander, Jumonville, was captured and during his interrogation, the Half King split his skull with his tomahawk, and then washed his hands in his brains.
Half King then moved all of his people east of the Aughwick Valley, where he would no longer take any part of the war. He died of pneumonia on October 4, 1754 on the farm of John Harris in Paxtang, which is now Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.