King Payne was a son of the Seminole

Seminole

The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...

 high chief Cowkeeper

Cowkeeper

Cowkeeper, also known as Ahaya in Mikasuki , was the first recorded chief of the Alachua band of the Seminole tribe. This was the name which the English used, as he held a very large herd of cattle.-Early life and education:...

 and succeeded him as leading chief of the Seminoles

Leading chief of the Seminoles

There were four leading chiefs of the Seminoles between the time the tribe organized in the mid-18th century until Micanopy was sent to Indian Territory following the Second Seminole War.*Cowkeeper, 1750-1783*King Payne, 1783-1812*Bolek, 1812-1819...

 upon his death in 1783. He led his people against the Spanish

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 and American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

s from Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

 and established a number of towns and villages, including Paynes Town in Paynes Prairie

Paynes Prairie

Paynes Prairie is a Florida State Park, encompassing a savanna south of Gainesville, Florida, in Micanopy. It is also a U.S. National Natural Landmark. It is crossed by both I-75 and U.S. 441 .- History :...

, both of which are named for him. Paynes Prairie is in present-day Alachua County, Florida

Alachua County, Florida

Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...

, between Gainesville

Gainesville

Gainesville is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Gainesville, Alabama*Gainesville, Florida, largest municipality with this name*Gainesville, Georgia*Gainesville, Missouri*Gainesville , New York...

 and Micanopy

Micanopy

Micanopy , also known as Micco-Nuppe, Michenopah, Miccanopa, Mico-an-opa and Sint-chakkee , was the leading chief of the Seminoles who led the tribe during the Second Seminole War...

. U.S. Route 441

U.S. Route 441 in Florida

U.S. Route 441 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from Miami in South Florida northwest to the Georgia border north of the Lake City area....

 and Interstate 75

Interstate 75 in Florida

Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Hialeah, Florida, a few miles northwest of Miami to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...

 cut through the prairie.

Payne was shot and killed in 1812 during a surprise raid by Colonel Daniel Newnan

Daniel Newnan

Daniel Newnan was an American politician and physician.Born in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1780, Newnan attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1796 and 1797...

. He was succeeded as leading chief by his brother Bolek

Bolek

Bolek , also spelled as Boleck, and known as Bowlegs by European Americans, was a Seminole chief. He was the younger brother of King Payne, who succeeded their father Cowkeeper as leading chief in Florida...

, called Bowlegs by the Anglo-Americans.