La Demoiselle

Memeskia (in Miami-Illinois: Meemeehšihkia ′Dragonfly′, c. 1695 – June 21, 1752), known as "Old Briton" by the British and as "La Demoiselle" by the French, was an eighteenth-century Piankashaw chieftain who fought against the French in 1747. In November 1750, he signed a friendship treaty with the British Indian agent, George Croghan, which was cemented during a visit by Indian scout Christopher Gist in February 1751. He had acquired the nickname "La Demoiselle" from the French, which translates to "young lady" or "damselfly", but was supposedly a grandiloquent rendering of the meaning of meemeehšihkia, Miami-Illinois for 'dragonfly', signifying "fickle" or "capricious". The English referred to Memeskia as "Old Briton" due to his steadfast attachment to the English and their trade goods. A prominent member of the Piankashaw tribe, Memeskia was one of the earliest opponents of the expanding French presence in North America regarding their dominance, monopoly and lower barter prices i

Elevation: 2305 m

Country: France

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La Demoiselle

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