Ross, John, 1812-?

John Ross was born October 3, 1790 in Alabama. He was one-eight Cherokee, seven-eights Scottish. He grew up and was educated in a traditional school in Kingston, Tennessee. At the age of nineteen, he began his political career with the Cherokee Nation. In 1809, Ross was entrusted by Indian Agent Return Meigs to go to the Arkansas Cherokees. After that, Ross devoted his life to achieving freedom and political recognition for the Cherokee Nation. Ross fought in the War of 1812 and played a roll in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. In 1820, Ross worked with the Cherokee Nation to form a republic, in hopes of achieving recognition from the federal government and to avoid forced relocation. In forming the Republic, Ross and the Cherokees divided their nation into eight districts with a legislature and drew up a constitution. The constitution included a President of the National Council, and Ross was the ideal candidate and was elected as the first and only President of the Cherokee National Council. Despite Ross's best efforts, the Cherokee Indians were relocated to Oklahoma in 1838. Even after their relocation, Ross continued to work for recognition and the Cherokees appointed him Chief of the United Cherokee Nation in 1838. Ross held that position until he died on August 1, 1866 in Washington, D.C.

From the description of The John Ross Collection. 1838. (Pritzker Military Library). WorldCat record id: 232155747

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