Manuel Lisa

Manuel Lisa, also known as Manuel de Lisa (September 8, 1772 in New Orleans, Louisiana – August 12, 1820 in St. Louis, Missouri), is a Spanish fur trader, explorer, and United States Indian agent.

He is among the founders in St. Louis of the Missouri Fur Company, an early fur trading company.

Lisa gains respect through his trading among Native American tribes of the upper Missouri River region, such as the Teton Sioux, Omaha and Ponca.

After being appointed as US Indian agent during the War of 1812, Lisa uses his standing among the tribes to encourage their alliance with the United States and their warfare against tribes allied with the United Kingdom.

Although he is already married to a European-American woman in St. Louis, where he keeps a residence, in 1814 Lisa marries Mitain, a daughter of Big Elk, the principal chief of the Omaha people, as part of securing their alliance.

They have two children together, whom Lisa provides for equally in his will with his children by his official marriage.

No related events match the current filters.