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Death of Metacomet
On August 12, 1676, King Philip's War leader Metacomet (King Philip) was killed by colonial militia near Hope Hill, Rhode Island, marking a decisive …
Timeline
- 1676Hope Hill · Rhode IslandIn the summer of 1676, successive colonial offensives destroyed the strongholds of the Native alliance; Metacomet led his remaining followers back to his ancestral homeland around Hope Hill, attempting to regroup, but most of his people had dispersed or surrendered.
- 1676Hope Hill swamp · Rhode IslandCaptain Benjamin Church led colonial militia and friendly Native guides in tracking Metacomet to Hope Hill, where they ambushed his party in swampy terrain. In the firefight Metacomet was shot and killed; his brother and wife were also captured or killed.
- 1676–1678New England colonies · New EnglandMetacomet's head was cut off and publicly displayed in Plymouth and elsewhere; colonial authorities declared "King Philip" dead. The Native alliance rapidly collapsed after losing its core leader, and sporadic resistance continued until 1678 before being suppressed.
Sources
- Entertaining Passages Relating to Philip's War — Benjamin Church (1716)
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Metacom https://www.britannica.com/biography/Metacom