Pontiac

(c. 1720-69) Ottawa Indian chief. After attempting to deal with British settlers on terms of mutual respect, Pontiac, who led a loose confederation of several tribes, realized that the British plan was to exclude the Indians from their homeland. He arranged for every Indian tribe in the area from Lake Superior to the lower Mississippi to attack the nearest British fort (this action, in May 1763, came to be called Pontiac's Rebellion). Pontiac himself attempted to capture the fort at Detroit, but his plans were revealed ahead of time to the fort commander, who was able to repel Pontiac's attack with the help of reinforcements. The overall plan was more successful; the Indians captured all but four of the twelve forts they attacked and in general exacted bloody vengeance on the British settlers in the area. After years of fighting between the Indians and the British, Pontiac accepted a peace treaty in 1766. He was assassinated by an Indian from a rival tribe.

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