Which individual is credited with purchasing Manhattan from the Native Americans?

The individual credited with purchasing Manhattan from the Native Americans is Peter Minuit. In 1626, Minuit, who was the Director of the New Netherland colony, is traditionally said to have negotiated the purchase from the local Lenape tribe for goods valued at 60 guilders, often identified as approximately $24 in modern currency. This purchase is significant in American history as it marked the beginning of European colonization in what would become New York City.

Minuit's role was pivotal not just in the transaction, but also in establishing Dutch control over the area, which laid the groundwork for the development of New Amsterdam, the early settlement that later evolved into New York City. His actions are often romanticized within historical narratives, symbolizing both opportunity and the complexities of indigenous-European relations during the age of exploration and colonization.