Half-King (tribal chief)
Half-King, also known as Tanacharison, was a significant Iroquois tribal chief who played a critical role in the political landscape of the Ohio Valley during the eighteenth century. Originally born a Catawba, he was captured and raised by the Seneca people. The title "Half-King" was not a personal name but a designation given to tribal leaders who were empowered by the Iroquois Grand Council to engage in diplomatic relations with neighboring tribes. Tanacharison was a prominent ally of the British during the French and Indian War and participated in key discussions with notable figures such as George Washington and Conrad Weiser.
His involvement in the Battle of Great Meadows in 1754 marked a significant moment in the conflict, where he contributed to the confrontation against French forces. Unfortunately, Tanacharison's life was cut short when he passed away from pneumonia in 1754, shortly after moving to Aughwick, Pennsylvania. His legacy remains important in understanding the dynamics of Native American alliances and resistance during a tumultuous period in North American history.
Half-King (tribal chief)
- Born: c. 1700
- Birthplace: Near present-day Buffalo, New York
- Died: October 4, 1754
- Place of death: Present-day Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Category: Tribal chief
Tribal affiliation: Oneida
Significance: Half-King joined the British forces during the French and Indian War
Half-King, or Tanacharison, was one of a number of Iroquois who lived in the Ohio Valley area during the eighteenth century. Some of these Iroquois, who were often called “Mingos” by the whites, had been delegated power from the Iroquois Grand Council to conduct diplomacy with local tribes. The whites called such delegates “half-kings,” so the designation was more a title than a personal name.
Tanacharison, born a Catawba, was captured at an early age and reared as a Seneca near the eastern shore of Lake Erie. Tanacharison was a valued ally of the British in the French and Indian War, and held councils with several officials, including Conrad Weiser, George Croghan, and a young George Washington, who was serving in his first combat situation. Tanacharison fought as an ally of Washington in the Battle of Great Meadows (1754), the opening salvo of the final British war with the French in North America, which ended in 1763. As a result of this battle, in which Tanacharison killed at least one French officer, Washington surrendered Fort Necessity to the French.
Tanacharison later moved to Aughwick (now Harrisburg), Pennsylvania, where he died of pneumonia in 1754.