Alexander McGillivray's Rise to Power

Alexander McGillivray, who is he and where did he come from?  He was one of the most influential Leaders of his time. He alone held the Creek Confederacy together when no one else could. His rise to power played a great role in shaping U.S. Federal Indian policy of the late 1700's. His influence also shaped the Indian policy of Spain and Great Britain.

  Alexander was born in Creek Indian country in 1759. His father was Lachlan McGillivray a Scottish Trader. His mother was Sehoy Marchand a mixed blood Creek Indian Princess for the powerful wind clan. She was half French and half Creek. (1) Yes a real Indian Princess. When he was born, he was given two names. His Indian name was Hipp-ilk-micco meaning "the good child king" his Christian name was Alexander. (2)

  His father established a trading house at Little Tallassee on the Coosa River. He was one of five children Alexander was the second child and the only boy. By the time of the American Revolution Lachlan McGillivray controlled most of the Indian trade out of Savannah and Augusta Georgia. Later on he would acquire several large plantations. By the time of Alexander's birth his father had already owned 1,250 acres of land and fifty African slaves. His father severed as Commissioner of Peace for several years and once as a delegate to the Georgia assembly from Augusta. (3)

When Alexander was fourteen, he was sent to school in Charleston. He was placed in the care of his French cousin a Presbyterian minister Farquer McGillivray. His studies included Latin, Greek, English, History, and Literature. His proficiency in these fields is unknown, but he did become a very skillful penmen. Later he went to work in the counting house of Samuel Elbert who was governor of Georgia. This in itself proved to be a short and unsuccessful stay and he soon returned to Charleston. While in Charleston he resumed his studies under his cousin's guidance. (4)

  The American Revolution interrupted Alexander's schooling; so he went to live with his mother in the Creek Nation. Because of his father's position as a trader and his mothers position in the Wind Clan he was made a minor chief. During this time he also worked for the British as an assistant to David Taitt, the British agent to the Upper Creeks. His British appointment came not only because of his family's status among the Creeks, but also because of his Fathers loyalty to the British. (5)

  It is not known exactly when he started working for the British. Many historians say it was 1777, because his first report to John Stuart, the British Indian Agent for the southern Department, was in 1777. This author believes that it was in 1776 and possibly as early as 1775, because McGillivray made a statement in January of 1784 that he had been working as a British agent for nearly eight years. (6) After David Taitt left, Alexander served as the main agent to the Creek Indian Nation from 1779 to 1783. During this time he held the rank of Colonel in the British army. It is believed that he was only a colonel towards the end of his service to the British, because John Stewart was also a colonel.

  At the close of the American Revolution, Alexander McGillivray rose to a position of significant power among the Creek Indians. In the summer of 1782, the prominent Chief Emistigo died during the siege of Savannah. This left a power vacuum that Alexander was able to fill in 1783. Now he had risen to a position as the leading Chief of the Upper Creek Indians. The defeat of the British and the withdraw from this continent opened the door to power and influence for the young chief. This vacancy of power was soon filled by Alexander, because he knew how to deal with government officials and knew how things worked in the realm of politics among the white people.

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