Little Turkey

Little Turkey
Born	c. 1758
Died	1801
Nationality	Cherokee
Title	First Beloved Man,Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Predecessor	Hanging Maw
Successor	Black Fox

Little Turkey(c. 1758–1801) wasFirst Beloved Manof theCherokee people.In 1794, he became the firstPrincipal Chiefof theoriginal Cherokee Nation.

Headman

Little Turkey, born in about 1758, was elected First Beloved Man by the general council of theCherokeeupon their re-establishment of the council's seat atUstanalion theConasauga River.This was after the murder ofCorntasselin 1788.

The United States recognized his rival,Hanging Mawof Coyatee, as the Cherokees' leading headman. But the larger part of the Cherokee, including the Lower Cherokee who followedDragging Canoe,recognized Little Turkey as leader.

Following the end of theCherokee–American wars(1794) and the subsequent organization that year of a national government, Little Turkey's title became Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. He held this position until his death in 1801.

References

• Litton, Gaston L."The Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation",Chronicles of Oklahoma15:3 (September 1937) 253–270; retrieved August 18, 2006.