A widely respected chief of the Choctaw Indians, Pushmataha was born around 1764. He was well known as a skillful warrior and wise leader. By 1800, he had established a reputation as an eloquent speaker and successful negotiator, able to speak four languages. He led the Choctaws to support General Andrew Jackson and the American troops in the Battle of 1812 against English forces and their allies, the Creeks. He was made a brigadier general for his role. In 1820, however, when he represented the Choctaws at the Treaty of Doak’s Stand, he opposed Jackson. Chief Pushmataha rejected the idea of forcing his people to move west of the Mississippi River and attempted to secure a fair treaty. He traveled to Washington, D. C., with other Choctaw leaders in 1824 to seek compensation for lands granted them by the United States. During this trip, he became ill and died. He was granted full military honors and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington.