Canonchet

Narragansett leader

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July 21, 2026

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Canonchet was a sachem, or chief, of the Narragansett tribe in what is now Rhode Island. He played a significant role during King Philip's War (1675–76), a major conflict between Native American tribes and English colonists.12

Initially, the Narragansett attempted to remain neutral in the war. However, after English colonists attacked their winter camp in the Great Swamp in December 1675, resulting in heavy Narragansett casualties, Canonchet led his people to join King Philip's coalition. He led a guerrilla campaign against English settlements, including burning Providence, Rhode Island. Canonchet was captured and executed in April 1676, marking a turning point in the war for the Narragansett. The conflict ultimately led to the displacement of many Narragansett people.231

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King Philip’s War
…leadership of the Narragansett sachem, Canonchet, then embarked on a late-winter offensive in 1676 that pushed back most of the colonial frontier in the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Rhode Island colonies. In fact, much of the war’s extraordinary damage occurred during that phase of the conflict. The Narragansetts, for example,…
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…leadership of the Narragansett sachem, Canonchet, then embarked on a late-winter offensive in 1676 that pushed back most of the colonial frontier in the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Rhode Island colonies. In fact, much of the war’s extraordinary damage occurred during that phase of the conflict. The Narragansetts, for example,…
Read More