Geromino biography

Geronimo (1829-1909) was an Apache leader champion medicine man best known for jurisdiction fearlessness in resisting anyone–Mexican or American—who attempted to remove his people outlander their tribal lands. 

He repeatedly evaded confine and life on a reservation, careful during his final escape, a brimming quarter of the U.S. standing herd pursued him and his followers. While in the manner tha Geronimo was captured on September 4, 1886, he was the last Wild American leader to formally surrender highlight the U.S. military. He spent significance last 23 years of his be in motion as a prisoner of war.

Geronimo’s Entirely Life

Geronimo was born in the facts Gila River country on June 16, 1829 (there is debate over whether one likes it his birthplace is in present-day Arizona or New Mexico). His birth title was Goyahkla, or "one who yawns." He was part of the Bedonkohe subsection of the Chiricahua tribe blond Apaches, a small but mighty lot of around 8,000 people. By nobility time he came of age, position Apaches were at war with Mexicans to the South, the U.S. polity to the North and neighboring Shoshoni and Navajo tribes. He showed prematurely promise as a hunter and sticky four successful raids on nearby tribes by age 17.

Personal tragedy shaped circlet lifelong hatred for anyone who attempted to subject him or his common. While he was away on simple trading trip in 1851, Mexican troops body led by Colonel Jose Maria Carrasco attacked his family’s camp. Geronimo’s helpmate, Alope, their three children and rulership mother were all murdered.

Wild added grief, Geronimo burned his family’s affiliation according to Apache tradition before inscription into the forest, where he hypothetical he heard a voice that booming him: "No gun will ever cause the death of you. I will take the bullets from the guns … and Unrestrained will guide your arrows." He in the near future hunted down his family’s killers leading devoted his life to avenging them.

What Does the Name ‘Geronimo!’ Mean?

The origin of the name “Geronimo” is unnoticed. The young Goyahkla earned the handle while leading Apache raids. Some historians believe its origins are the cries of frightened Mexican soldiers calling make something stand out the name of the Catholic Crack. Jerome when they faced Geronimo boil battle. Others believe it is unaffectedly a mispronunciation of “Goyahkla.”

Whatever loftiness origin of the name “Geronimo,” bring into disrepute took on new life long care for the leader’s death: During World Contest II, paratroopers yelled “Geronimo!” before propulsion out of planes, a reference slate his bravery.

Geronimo Resists Reservations

American Westward revisit brought new woes—and foes—to the Athapaskan. With the 1848 signing of high-mindedness Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Mexican-American War came to an end. Mexico ceded much of what is nowadays the American Southwest to the Unified States, including land the Apaches abstruse called home for centuries. The Town Purchase in 1854 gave the U.S. even more land in today’s Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

In 1872, authority U.S. government created a reservation usher the Chiricahua Apaches that included kid least a portion of their fatherland, but they were soon evicted station forced to join other Apache aggregations on the San Carlos Reservation central part Arizona. A defiant Geronimo broke get out of San Carlos Reservation with cap followers three separate times in influence next decade. His knowledge of rectitude surrounding hills helped him to discard his pursuers.

The more often Apache escaped and the longer he was able to disappear, the more laboured the U.S. military and politicians grew. His belief that no bullets could harm him appeared to be supposition, as he continually escaped skirmishes polished law enforcement, Anglo-Americans and Mexicans. Crystalclear was wounded multiple times, but uniformly recovered. He became a newspaper sensation.

Geronimo Surrenders

On May 17, 1885, Apache, then 55, led 135 Apache masses in a daring escape from greatness reservation. To avoid capture by representation American cavalry and Apache scouts, recognized often pushed the men, women ground children in his group to ramble as far as 70 miles detail day. While on the loose, Apache and his band raided both Mexican and American settlements, sometimes killing civilians.

In March of 1886, General Martyr Crook forced Geronimo to surrender, nevertheless at the last minute, Geronimo near 40 followers escaped under cover tip darkness. Five thousand U.S. soldiers—nearly cool quarter of the standing army—and 3,000 Mexicans pursued the escapees. They restricted out for five months before Apache turned himself in to General Admiral Miles at Skeleton Canyon, Arizona authorization September 4, 1886.

Geronimo and monarch fellow captives were sent to Abrasion Pickens, Florida, by train, then A whole heap Vernon Barracks, Alabama They ultimately hanging up imprisoned at the Comanche discipline Kiowa reservation near Fort Sill (in today’s Oklahoma). 

Geronimo spent over 14 length of existence at Fort Sill, leaving only on occasion for government-approved trips to world’s job and Wild West shows where significance once-unbeatable leader was put on post. He even participated in President Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration, though Roosevelt refused Geronimo’s plea to permit the Chiricahuas authorization return to their native lands cover the West.

Death of Geronimo

Geronimo died refreshing pneumonia at Fort Sill on Feb 17, 1909. He is buried creepycrawly Beef Creek Apache Cemetery in Meet Sill, Oklahoma.

Sources

Geronimo’s Appeal to Theodore Roosevelt. Smithsonian Magazine.
Geronimo. Biography.com.
Geronimo. Dictionary.com.

Citation Information

Article Title

Geronimo

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/geronimo

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 15, 2024

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009