Lawrence Taliaferro (/ˈtɒlɪvər/ TOL-iv-ər; February 28, 1794 – January 22, 1871)[1] was a United States Army officer who served as an Indian agent at Fort Snelling, Minnesota from 1820 through 1839.

He was soon selected to study for a regular Army commission, and was made an ensign of the 1st United States Infantry Regiment in July 1813.

This was a difficult task, as evidenced by his diary: "How to get rid of me at this Post seems now the main object of Tom, Dick, and Harry — so that those who may come after me can the more easily be bribed or threatened into silence and acquiesce in the plans on foot to cheat & destroy the Indians."

[3] Taliaferro built a council house just west of the fort in 1823, where he received Native American visitors and mediated in the affairs of the area.

The Dakota ended up debt-ridden and desperate for their means of survival, and Taliaferro became increasingly critical of the United States' inability to make good on their promises.