Charles R. Hicks was one of the most influential Cherokee leaders of the early 19th century. Born in 1767 at Tomatly on the Hiawassee River, he was the son of a white trader named Nathan Hicks and a Cherokee woman of the wolf clan named Nancy Broom. He began his political career in the 1790's as an interpreter for the elder chiefs, including his grandfather Chief Broom, and rose quickly in Cherokee politics while promoting the idea of merging the traditional Cherokee lifestyle with a more Europeanized existence. On October 6, 1800, he and Chief James Vann encouraged the Council at Oostanaula to allow Moravian missionaries to build the first mission and school in the Cherokee Nation, and in 1801 that mission, named Springplace, was built on these acres. After James Vann's death in 1809, Hicks became the primary supporter of Springplace. On Good Friday, April 16, 1813, he was baptized in a barn at the mission site and was given the baptismal name Renatus, meaning renewed. From then on, he promoted Christianity in his nation while continuing his political career. During the Creek War in 1813-1814, he earned the rank of captain in Gideon Morgan's Cherokee regiment. After the war he was elected Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1817, and in 1819 he also began serving as the nation's treasurer. During his tenure, the Cherokee Nation underwent major transformations, including adoption of a judicial system, designation of New Echota as a national capital, and adoption of Sequoyah's syllabary in 1821. In October 1819, a missionary praised his appearance, intelligence, command of English, reading and writing ability, and character for integrity, temperance, and intelligence. Troubled throughout his life by a painful joint ailment, Hicks presided over the Council at New Echota in October 1826 for the aged and ailing Principal Chief Pathkiller. On his return home, unseasonably cold and damp weather seriously aggravated his condition. Still confined to bed in January 1827, he learned that he had been elected Principal Chief after Pathkiller's death, but less than two weeks later he also died. In accordance with his wishes, he was brought to Springplace for burial, where his remains rested for several hours in the chapel before an immense gathering, Major Ridge delivered a eulogy, and six Cherokees carried him to his final resting place.