Sitting Bull
1831 – 1890

Sitting Bull

Hunkpapa Lakota medicine man and holy man (1831–1890)

traditional leader or chiefmedicine man
Born
1831-01-01, Grand River
Died
1890-12-15
Birthplace state
South Dakota

Biography

Sitting Bull was born in 1831 at Grand River, South Dakota, and served as a chief and medicine man among the Hunkpapa Lakota. He led his people during years of resistance against United States government policies. On December 15, 1890, he was killed by Indian agency police accompanied by U.S. officers and supported by U.S. troops on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation during an arrest attempt made when authorities feared he would join the Ghost Dance movement.

Occupation

Sitting Bull is recorded as a traditional leader or chief and a medicine man, born in South Dakota (1831–1890).

Connections to South Dakota

Sitting Bull was born in Grand River, South Dakota in 1831. Explore other notable figures from South Dakota, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from South DakotaSouth Dakotahistory ›Historic sites in South Dakota
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Sitting Bull came from Grand River. A full Aubrey report on Grand River pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from South Dakota

Other historical figures born in South Dakota, ranked by historical prominence.

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vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969
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Theodore Schultz
Theodore Schultz
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George McGovern
George McGovern
American historian and politician (1922–2012)
Gene Amdahl
Gene Amdahl
American physicist (1922-2015)
Zitkala-Sa
Zitkala-Sa
Yankton Dakota writer (1876-1938)

Frequently asked about Sitting Bull

Who was Sitting Bull?
Sitting Bull was Hunkpapa Lakota medicine man and holy man (1831–1890), born in South Dakota (1831 – 1890).
When and where was Sitting Bull born?
Sitting Bull was born on 1831-01-01 in Grand River.
When did Sitting Bull die?
Sitting died on 1890-12-15.
What was Sitting Bull known for?
Sitting Bull is recorded as a traditional leader or chief and a medicine man.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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