Sequoyah
Invented the Cherokee syllabary
Cherokee silversmith and inventor (c.1770-1843) who created a writing system.
Unable to read any language, he spent years devising a syllabary for Cherokee — arguably the only time an individual invented a complete writing system. The syllabary was so practical that within a few years the Cherokee Nation became literate; newspapers, books, and laws followed in his script.
Famous for
- Invented the Cherokee syllabary (86 characters)
- Made the entire Cherokee Nation literate within a few years
- Possibly illiterate himself when he started
- Namesake of the giant sequoia tree
In Rubicon
Sequoyah is one of the historical characters you can play as in Rubicon, a trivia game where you answer in your own words and an AI judge reads what you meant. Sequoyah is filed under Language & Communication, and is strongest at Language & Communication.