Quick Facts
- Also called:
- John Monhegan or Indian John
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Chingachgook
fictional character
Also known as: Indian John, John Monhegan
Chingachgook, fictional character, a Mohican chief in four of the novels by James Fenimore Cooper known under the collective title The Leatherstocking Talesācomprising The Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1826), The Pathfinder (1840), and The Deerslayer (1841).
Chingachgook is a lifelong friend of Natty Bumppo, the white frontiersman and hero of the saga. Chingachgook and his son Uncas (who is the last of the Mohicans) frequently help defend the English settlers against hostile attacks by other native tribes and the French. Uncas is eventually killed by a Huron warrior. As an old man, Chingachgook rejects the Moravian faith that he had embraced in his youth, and he dies wearing traditional Mohican regalia.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.