ROSS, JOHN

Indian name Tsan-Usdi ("Little John")

born Oct. 3, 1790, near Lookout Mountain, western district of N.C., U.S.

died Aug. 1, 1866, Washington, D.C.

American Indian chief.

The son of a Scottish father and part-Cherokee mother, he grew up as a Cherokee . He fought in the Creek War under Andrew Jackson (1813–14). He later became president of the National Council of Cherokees (1819–26). As principal chief of the Cherokee Nation (1828–39), he resisted government attempts to seize Cherokee farms and lands in Georgia and unsuccessfully petitioned Jackson to defend the Indians' rights. In 1838 he was forced to lead his people on the infamous Trail of Tears to the Oklahoma Territory. There he became chief of the new United Cherokee Nation (1839–66).