Alexander McKee
Encyclopedia
Colonel Alexander McKee (ca.
1735 – 15 January 1799) was an agent in the British
Indian Department
during the French and Indian War
, the American Revolutionary War
, and the Northwest Indian War
.
His father Thomas was an Irish
immigrant and his mother Mary was from a North Carolina
settler's family who had been captured and adopted by the Shawnee
tribe. It was through his mother's tutelage that Alexander learned the customs and language of the Indians
and came to develop a lifetime relationship with the Ohio Indian tribes.
Initially, McKee began working with traders who did business with the Indians of the Ohio Country
. Soon, he was able to establish his own trading business. Because of his good relations with the Ohio tribes, Indian agent George Croghan enlisted McKee in the service of the Crown's Indian Department
. Around 1764, he settled in what is now McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
, and built a substantial house. George Washington
visited him there in 1770, and mentions this in his diary. McKee continued in the service of Pennsylvania
for some time after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
, but following mistreatment by the settlers, he left the Americans
in favor of the British
at Detroit. It was during this transition that he established his well known association with Matthew Elliott and the Girty brothers: Simon
, James, and George.
During the next 25 years, Alexander McKee would lead in the efforts of promoting the alliance of the Indians to the British most especially with the Shawnee
tribe, but also with the majority of the Northwest Indian tribes. He died in Canada in 1799 and was mourned and greatly honored by the Northwest tribes, which included Tecumseh
.
His son Thomas McKee
was a Canadian
soldier and political figure.
The borough of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
, is named after Alexander McKee.
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Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1735 – 15 January 1799) was an agent in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Indian Department
Indian Department
The Indian Department was established in 1755 to oversee relations between the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and those First Nations in British North America. At that time of its establishment it was a wing of the British Military.The department was initially led by...
during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
.
His father Thomas was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrant and his mother Mary was from a North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
settler's family who had been captured and adopted by the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
tribe. It was through his mother's tutelage that Alexander learned the customs and language of the Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and came to develop a lifetime relationship with the Ohio Indian tribes.
Initially, McKee began working with traders who did business with the Indians of the Ohio Country
Ohio Country
The Ohio Country was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake Erie...
. Soon, he was able to establish his own trading business. Because of his good relations with the Ohio tribes, Indian agent George Croghan enlisted McKee in the service of the Crown's Indian Department
Indian Department
The Indian Department was established in 1755 to oversee relations between the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and those First Nations in British North America. At that time of its establishment it was a wing of the British Military.The department was initially led by...
. Around 1764, he settled in what is now McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
McKees Rocks, also known as "The Rocks", is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the south bank of the Ohio River. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.In the past, it was known for its extensive iron and steel interests...
, and built a substantial house. George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
visited him there in 1770, and mentions this in his diary. McKee continued in the service of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
for some time after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, but following mistreatment by the settlers, he left the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in favor of the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
at Detroit. It was during this transition that he established his well known association with Matthew Elliott and the Girty brothers: Simon
Simon Girty
Simon Girty was an American colonial of Scots-Irish ancestry who served as a liaison between the British and their Native American allies during the American Revolution...
, James, and George.
During the next 25 years, Alexander McKee would lead in the efforts of promoting the alliance of the Indians to the British most especially with the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
tribe, but also with the majority of the Northwest Indian tribes. He died in Canada in 1799 and was mourned and greatly honored by the Northwest tribes, which included Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
.
His son Thomas McKee
Thomas McKee
Thomas McKee was a Canadian soldier and political figure.-Biography:McKee was born in the Ohio Country around 1770. He was the son of Alexander McKee Thomas McKee (c. 1770 – October 20, 1814) was a Canadian soldier and political figure.-Biography:McKee was born in the Ohio Country around 1770. He...
was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
soldier and political figure.
The borough of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
McKees Rocks, also known as "The Rocks", is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the south bank of the Ohio River. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.In the past, it was known for its extensive iron and steel interests...
, is named after Alexander McKee.
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