David O'Keefe (ship captain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David O'Keefe
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| Born | 1824 |
| Died | 1901 Returning to Savannah, Georgia
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Ship captain |
| Known for | Historical and political figure on the South Pacific island of Yap |
David Dean O'Keefe (born 1824 or 1828 – died 1901) was an Irish-American ship captain. He became an important historical figure on the island of Yap in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Contents
David O'Keefe's Journey
David O'Keefe moved to the United States in 1848. He settled in Savannah, Georgia. In 1871, he became the captain of a ship. He sailed his ship all the way to the Western Pacific.
Arriving on Yap Island
After a long journey, Captain O'Keefe landed on the island of Yap. This island is famous for its unique money. The people of Yap used large stone disks called Rai stones as currency. These stones were very hard to make and move.
The Stone Money of Yap
O'Keefe became very powerful on Yap. He brought tools from Hong Kong and other parts of East Asia. These tools made it much easier to create the huge Rai stones. Because the stones were easier to make, more of them appeared. This eventually led to the decline of stone money during the time Germany ruled the area.
The "King" of His Own Island
Even with the changes to the stone money, O'Keefe gained a lot of wealth. He became so rich that he owned his own island. People even called him the "king" of his island. He reportedly had his own special flag. This flag showed the US flag flying above the letters "O K."
His Later Life and Legacy
In 1901, David O'Keefe died while on a ship. He was on the ship Santa Cruz, returning to Savannah.
His life on Yap was so interesting that it became the subject of a story. A movie called His Majesty O'Keefe was made in 1954. The famous actor Burt Lancaster starred in the film.
See also
- O'Keefe's Island, where his home was located in Yap Harbor
