Bolek

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Bolek was also the code name of the French WWII intelligence officer Gustave Bertrand.

Bolek (d. 1819), also known as Boleck or Bowlegs, was a Seminole chieftain and brother to King Payne who later commanded Seminole forces during the First Seminole War.

A Seminole chieftain based near the Suwanee River of western Florida, Bolek (as would his successor Micanopy) first began opposing American influence in Spanish Florida during the early 1800s. Opposing Georgian slaveholders from pursuing runaway slaves into Seminole territory (some of whom had married into the tribe), in 1812, both he and his brother King Payne began raiding frontier settlements along the Florida-Georgia border. Continuing well after the War of 1812, Seminole bands would fight several engagements with militia forces eventually resulting in the death of King Payne (as well as Bolek suffering serious wounds) during a skirmish with Georgia militia forces under Daniel Newman, later encouraging an expedition by Colonel John Williams the following year destroying hundreds of Seminole villages and capturing large amounts of horses and cattle. Border warfare would continue between the Seminole and Georgia settlers would lead up to the Creek War of 1813-1814.

During the First Seminole War, American forces under General Andrew Jackson advanced into northern Florida capturing Kinache's village of Miccosukee and occupied the British settlement of St. Marks before reaching Bolek's abandoned village. Capturing two Englishman, a Robert Ambrister and Peter Cook, they were marched back to St. Mark and, charged with assisting the Seminoles, were executed by American forces. Although created an international incident, Jackson continued his offensive recapturing Pensacola. With the purchase of Florida from Spain in 1819, Bolek would be succeeded by his grand-nephew Micanopy following his death shortly after the war.

Another member of the Cowkeeper dynasty was Billy Bowlegs.

[edit] References

• Johansen, Bruce C. and David A. Grinde, Jr. The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997.

Preceded by King Payne

Leading chief of the Seminoles 1812–1819

Succeeded by Micanopy