Famous Chiefs

Native Name
Koquethagechton Coquetakeghton

White Name
White Eyes

Nation
Delaware

White Eyes was born about 1730. In 1776 he became chief of the Turtle Clan of the Delawares replacing Newcomer. He worked to get the Delaware to consolidate and settle in Ohio. He tried to make peace with the white settlers, including the Moravian missionaries who settled near the Delawares in 1770.

White Eyes spoke before the Continental Congress in 1776. Congress officially thanked him for encouraging peace between the Natives and the settlers. He strove to keep the Delaware neutral, but said that if there was a war with the British, the Delawares would be on the sides of the Americans. He also proposed that the Delawares form the 14th state of a newly independent America. A treaty was signed in 1778 and the 14th state was to be for Native Americans.

White Eyes was given a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the American army. He died under suspicious circumstances in 1778 while guiding troops to the site at Fort Laurens. There are at least four possible explanations of his death, from smallpox to "friendly fire."

After White Eyes died, the relationship between the Delaware and the Americans was weakened. Most Delaware remained neutral early on in the war. After White Eyes' death, many supported the British.

Resources

Koquethagechton http://www.famousamericans.net/koquethagachton

White Eyes http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ohc/history/h_indian/people/whiteyes.shtml

White Eyes Coquetakeghton 1730-1778 http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/whiteeyes.htm