Allen Wright

The Reverend Allen Wright
Kiliahote
Chief of the Choctaw Republic
In office 1866–1870
Preceded by	Peter Pitchlynn
Succeeded by	William Bryant
Personal details
Born	Kiliahote[1] November 1826[1] Attala County, Mississippi[1]
Died	December 2, 1885[1] Boggy Depot, Indian Territory[1]
Nationality	Choctaw Nation
Political party	Progressive Party
Occupation	Minister, warrior, politician
Known for	Coined the name "Oklahoma."[1] Served as Principal Chief of Choctaw Nation, 1866-1870[1]
Military service
Allegiance	Choctaw Nation  Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate army Company of Choctaw infantry (1862–63) Company F, Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles (1863–65)
Years of service	1861–1865 (C.S.)
Rank	Chaplain

Allen Wright (Choctaw: Kiliahote) (born November 1826 – December 2, 1885) was Principal Chief of the Choctaw Republic from late 1866 to 1870. He had been ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1852 after graduating from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He was very active in the Choctaw government, holding several elected positions. He has been credited with the name Oklahoma (Choctaw word meaning "Home of the Red Man" in English) for the land that would become the state.^[1]

After serving in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, Wright was elected as Principal Chief, serving from 1866 to 1870. He was among the signatories of the Reconstruction Treaty of 1866 to re-establish peace with the United States. Wright served as superintendent of schools for the Choctaw Nation from 1880 to 1884.^[1]