16 Facts About Lawrence Taliaferro

Lawrence Taliaferro was a United States Army officer who served as an Indian agent at Fort Snelling, Minnesota from 1820 through 1839.

Lawrence Taliaferro was part of the famous enslaved African American Dred Scott's struggle for freedom.

Lawrence Taliaferro was selected to study for a regular Army commission, and was made an ensign of the 1st United States Infantry Regiment in July 1813.

Lawrence Taliaferro chose to remain in the Army after the war, intending to make it his career.

Lawrence Taliaferro partnered with Colonel Josiah Snelling to ensure peace and safety for the frontier outpost.

Lawrence Taliaferro's role was to mediate between the American Fur Company traders, the Ojibwe and Dakota in the area, and United States interests.

Lawrence Taliaferro encouraged the Dakota to rely less on hunting and more on farming, as a response to their difficulties in hunting at that time.

Lawrence Taliaferro had previously served with Josiah Snelling at the battle of Fort Erie in the War of 1812.

Chief Little Crow once told Lawrence Taliaferro there was "no sugar in your mouth," for his honesty and for his record of not making promises that he could not keep.

Lawrence Taliaferro built a council house just west of the fort in 1823, where he received Native American visitors and mediated in the affairs of the area.

Lawrence Taliaferro was able to exert his influence by distributing supplies such as food, gunpowder, tobacco, and whiskey.

Lawrence Taliaferro presided over the drafting of a treaty in 1837.

Lawrence Taliaferro brought Dakota leaders to Washington, DC, and negotiated what he thought were fair terms for Dakota lands east of the Mississippi River.

The Dakota ended up debt-ridden and desperate for their means of survival, and Lawrence Taliaferro became increasingly critical of the United States' inability to make good on their promises.

Lawrence Taliaferro gave Harriet to Scott's enslaver so that the couple could live together as husband and wife.

Lawrence Taliaferro is the lead character and narrator of the 1983 film, Tower and Braid, produced by the Minnesota Historical Society and shown regularly at historic Fort Snelling's museum.