Born Coosaponakeesa (coo-sop-oh-na-KEEsah), Mary Musgrove was the daughter of an English father and a Creek Indian mother. Fluent in both English and Muskogee, the Creek language, she became a bridge between two worlds.
She and her husband established a thriving trading post on Yamacraw Bluff. It was the center of commerce between the British, the colonists and the natives. That spot became the foundation for what is now the city of Savannah.
Her language skills and savviness caught the attention of James Oglethorpe, British founder of the colony of Georgia. She served as an interpreter for Oglethorpe many years, helping to negotiate treaties and land successions.
She is thought of by some historians as one of the most important figures in Georgia history.