Chief Black Hawk in Sauk language Makataimeshekiakiak, born sometime around 1767 in Illinois, was the appointed War Chief of the Sauk and Fox Indians. Black Hawk was the medicine man of the tribe before his appointed position. He was born and raised on the Rock River in a villiage called Saukenuk where the Sauk Indians harvested corn and used as a burial site. In the winter the tribe would cross the Mississippi River to hunt for food and fur. Black Hawk earned his position of War Chief due to the numerus war parties that he led. At the young age of 15, he killed his first man.

Black Hawk opposed the English Settlers and denied the 1804 treaty between the Sauk and Fox Nations and the Indiana Govenor William Henry Harrison. During the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom, Colonel Robert Dickson asked Black Hawk as well as other tribes for help in fighting the United States. Black Hawk and the Sauk Warriors fought on the banks of Lake Erie. Black Hawk pulled out of the war when he disagreed with the fight tactics of the British and due to the loss of many Sauk men.

In 1832, still angry over the 1804 treaty, Black Hawk gained the promise of alliance from other tribes and the British to fight control of his birth land. He quickly found he had no allies but could not return due to the Illinois malitia. This led to the battle of Stillman's Run. Numerous battles occured there after which became known as the Black Hawk War. Many men, women, and children were killed in these battles leading to the capture of Black Hawk. He remained in captivity until 1833 when he was sent back to his nation along the Iowa River.

Black Hawk died on October 31, 1838 after a 2 week struggle with illness. He was burried along the Des Moins River until his remains were stole by James Turner who used the remains to form an exhibition. James Turner was ordered to return Black Hawk's remains. They were left in the care of the Burlington Geological and Historical Society with permission from Black Hawk's son. The remains were destroyed in 1855 fire at the Burlington Geological and Historical Society.

1. Born in 1767
2. Birth Place: Northwestern Illinois
3. Sauk Name: Ma-ca-tai-me-she-kia-kiak
4. Medicine man of the Sauk Tribe
5. Appointed War Chief
6. Fought with Britain during the War of 1812
7. Led the 1832 Black Hawk War
8. Defeated on October 3, 1832
9. Released from captivity in 1833
10. Died October 3, 1838 in Iowa

• 1767: Born

• 1812: Black Hawk and his warriors sided with the British

• 1830: Black Hawk refused to abandon his lands

• 1832: Events leading up to the Black Hawk War

• 1832: August 2, the start of the Black Hawk War

• 1832: Surrendered

• 1833: Dictated his autobiography

• 1838: October 3 Chief Black Hawk died

• 1855: Museum that housed his remains burned down

• • This page was created by Karen, a Part Time Guide in the Mahalo Greenhouse (see the original), and curated by Stephanie.

• If you'd like to help us create the best spam free search results on the Internet, apply to be a Part Time Guide!</em>