Last updated: September 14, 2017
Person
Wingina
National Park Service
Quick Facts
Significance:
Chief of local Algonquian population
Place of Birth:
Unknown
Date of Birth:
Unknown
Place of Death:
Roanoke Island
Date of Death:
June 1, 1586
Place of Burial:
Unknown
The chief of the Native American tribes in the area, Wingina was not present when the English first landed but was well enough to open peaceful negotiations through his brother, Granganimeo.
Inviting the English to settle on settle on Roanoke Island, Wingina soon regretted his decision as disease and starvation ravaged his tribe. Changing his name to Pemisapan, this chief began to plan the destruction of Ralph Lane’s colony on the island. Unfortunately his plan was betrayed and Lane attacked his nearby village, killing Wingina/Pemisapan and many of his people.