Tecumseh

Tecumseh (1768?–1813), Shawnee chief. From their home in Ohio, Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa (the Prophet) attempted to unite the Native American tribes of the upper Midwest in a confederacy, calling upon them to maintain their ancient culture and beliefs and to oppose, by force if necessary, all attempts by European-Americans to settle on tribal lands. At the Battle of Tippecanoe (Indiana) in 1811, the Prophet was defeated by a U.S. force led by Gen. William Henry Harrison, a victory that led to Harrison's election as president in 1840. Tecumseh, noted for his military prowess, joined the British army against the United States in the War of 1812 and was made a brigadier general. He was defeated and killed at the battle of the Thames River in Ontario.