John Ross

John Ross, Native American name Coowescoowe (1790-1866), Native American chief of the Cherokee nation, born near Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, of a Scottish father and part-Cherokee mother. Ross was a determined champion of the Cherokee in the struggle that led to the removal of the Native Americans from their home in Georgia to lands in Oklahoma. From 1819 to 1826 he served as president of the National Council of the Cherokee, and in 1828 he became principal chief of the eastern branch of the Cherokee. When all his efforts to preserve the property of the Native Americans in Georgia had failed, Ross led (1838-1839) his people to their new home and united the eastern and western tribes under one government. He was chief of the united Cherokee nation until his death.