Sequoya (c. 1770–1843)

American Indian Cherokee scholar and leader who created a written Cherokee language in the form of a syllabary (a collection of written symbols or characters for sounds or syllables in a language). Sequoya's syllabary contained 85 characters, and was approved by the Cherokee council in 1821. As a result of the syllabary, most of the Cherokee people learned how to read. By 1828, the Cherokee were producing their own newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix.

Sequoya made his study of the Cherokee language after serving the US army in the Creek War 1813–14. He went on to write down ancient tribal history. In later life he became political representative of the Western tribes in Washington, negotiating for the Indians when the US government forced resettlement in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in the 1830s.

A type of giant redwood tree, the sequoia, is named after him, as is a national park in California.