Tanacharison or Tanaghrisson (c. 1700? – 4 October 1754) was an American Indian leader who played a pivotal role in the beginning of the French and Indian War. He was known to European-Americans as the Half King, a title also used to describe several other historically important American Indian leaders. His name has been spelled in a variety of ways. Early life Little is known of Tanacharison's early life. He may have been born into the Catawba tribe about 1700 near what is now Buffalo, Ne… (More on Tanacharison)