Michigan Minutes: The King of Beaver Island

[amanda2324]

I'm actually a direct descendent of this man... That's the only reason I know of him, because my mother told me about our family tree.

[externalpower]

i thought he was killed by an unknown gunman who was running for the uss mackinaw?

[agricola]

strang was a polygamus drunken bastard who tried to set up his own kingdom on beaver island............and failed. thank god.

[michiganhumanities]

Thanks for the commentary. This video was funded by the Council to Michigan Public Television, which researched and produced the 90-second history "bite."

[malahava]

Some of your historical "facts" are a bit off. He was assassinated by an adulterer whom he had disciplined and an accomplice who was jealous that his would be love had transferred her affections to Strang. You also fail to mention that the US government very likely played a role in the assassination as it was conducted while the USS Michigan was in the Beaver Island port and the assassins were given sanctuary on the vessel from the local sheriff. They were then transported to Mackinac and freed.

[dyakron]

@malahava

According to research Strang was killed by the husband of one of his last conquests. There was an accomplice and Strang was shot. I didn't see any mention of the US government's role in the assassination in The King of Beaver Island, though the government was on hand soon thereafter to transport Strang's followers to Green Bay and Chicago. If I remember right they were forcibly removed.

I'd like to read more information if you wouldn't mind sending it along. Thanks.