The Prophet Who Darkened the Sun
Challenged to prove his powers, a Shawnee prophet announced that he would make the Sun go dark. On the day he named, it did.
What was reported
Tenskwatawa, known as the Shawnee Prophet, was the brother of the leader Tecumseh, and preached a revival of Native ways against American expansion. In 1806, William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory, challenged his followers to ask him to stop the Sun or make the dead rise, if he was a real prophet.
Tenskwatawa answered that on a certain day, he would make the Sun go dark. On 16 June 1806, at his town near Greenville, Ohio, a total eclipse of the Sun turned day into night, and his fame spread widely.
Explanations offered
The eclipse had been predicted by astronomers, and it's thought Tenskwatawa learned of it from visitors or almanacs. The moment strengthened the movement that he and Tecumseh led.
- When
- 16 June 1806
- Where
- Greenville, Ohio, USA
- Witnesses
- Shawnee and other Native peoples, and American officials
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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