See Also

Ethan Allen

Ethan Allen was an early American revolutionary and guerrilla Guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla is a term borrowed from the Spanish [i] guerrilla meaning small war, ... 

 leader during the era of the Vermont Republic Vermont Republic

The Vermont Republic was a North America [i]n independent republic that lasted from 1777 [i] to 1791 [i] ... 

 and the New Hampshire Grants New Hampshire Grants

The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grant [i]s made between 1749 [i] an ... 

. He fought against the settlement of Vermont Vermont

Vermont is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the United States [i], located in th ... 

 by the Province of New York, and then for its independence in the American Revolutionary War American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between... 

.

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'Ethan Allen'

   Start a new discussion about 'Ethan Allen'

   Answer questions about 'Ethan Allen'

   'Ethan Allen' discussion forum

Timeline

1738   Born

1775   American Revolutionary War: Fort Ticonderoga Fort Ticonderoga

Fort Ticonderoga is a large 18th century [i] fort [i] built at a strategically important narrows in Lake Champlain [i] ... 

 is taken by a small force called the Green Mountain Boys Green Mountain Boys

The Green Mountain Boys were a paramilitary [i] infantry organized in Southwestern Vermont [i] in the de ... 

 of Vermont Vermont

Vermont is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the United States [i], located in th ... 

, led by Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was a general [i] in the Continental Army [i] during the American Revolutionary War [i]. ... 

 and Ethan Allen.

1775   American Revolutionary War: Battle of Montreal - Patriot United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 revolutionary forces under Col. Ethan Allen capture Montreal Montreal

Montreal, or Montral in French [i], is the second largest city [i] ... 

 from British Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain ... 

 General Guy Carleton Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB [i], often known as Sir Guy Carleton, was a British [i] ... 

.


Quotations

That there are degrees in the knowledge of rational beings, and also in their capacities to acquire it, cannot be disputed, as it is so very obvious among mankind.

Ch. IV Section I - Speculation on the Doctrine of the Depravity of Human Reason

       More Quotes >>


Encyclopedia


Ethan Allen was an early American revolutionary and guerrilla Guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla is a term borrowed from the Spanish [i] guerrilla meaning small war, ... 

 leader during the era of the Vermont Republic Vermont Republic

The Vermont Republic was a North America [i]n independent republic that lasted from 1777 [i] to 1791 [i] ... 

 and the New Hampshire Grants New Hampshire Grants

The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grant [i]s made between 1749 [i] an... 

. He fought against the settlement of Vermont Vermont

Vermont is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the United States [i], located in th ... 

 by the Province of New York, and then for its independence in the American Revolutionary War American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between... 

.

Biography


Allen was born in Litchfield Litchfield, Connecticut

Litchfield is a town in Litchfield County [i], Connecticut [i].... 

, Connecticut Connecticut

Connecticut is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the United States [i], located i ... 

, the first child of Joseph and Mary Baker Allen. Ethan was the oldest of the eight children. He was the only one to be born in Litchfield, since the family moved to Cornwall shortly after his birth. His brother, Ira Ira Allen

Ira Allen was one of the founders of Vermont [i] and leaders of the Green Mountain Boys [i]; he was born ... 

, figured prominently in the early history of Vermont. Joseph Allen was the leader of a rebellious group of land owners and speculators who held New Hampshire title to land grants in the New Hampshire Grants. New York, which held substantial claim to the area, refused to honor the New Hampshire titles and sold competing titles to different people, who generally did not live in Vermont. This led to open rebellion among the population in much of Vermont. In April of 1755, Joseph Allen died, leaving Ethan to take care of the family farm and title claims.

Allen was well over six feet tall, in a time when most men were almost a foot shorter. He was outspoken and apparently quite articulate. As a young man, he served in the colonial militia in the French and Indian War French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of the Seven Years' War [i]. ... 

. He was married and had five children. In the early 1770s, he emerged as the military leader of Anti-New York dissidents, known as the Green Mountain Boys Green Mountain Boys

The Green Mountain Boys were a paramilitary [i] infantry organized in Southwestern Vermont [i] in the de ... 

, who were fighting New York over the New Hampshire grants New Hampshire Grants

The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grant [i]s made between 1749 [i] an... 

. He and The Green Mountain Boys successfully carved out the Republic and later the State of Vermont. A warrant was issued for his arrest by the government of New York, for the substantial reward of 100 pounds.

In the spring of 1775, following the beginning of the American Revolutionary War American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between... 

, Allen and Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was a general [i] in the Continental Army [i] during the American Revolutionary War [i].... 

 led a raid to capture Fort Ticonderoga Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was an event early in the American Revolutionary War [i]. ... 

. The relative roles of Allen and Arnold are not entirely clear. Nor is it clear to what extent the campaign was formulated by the strongly anti-British faction in Connecticut, to what extent it was the idea of the Green Mountain Boys Green Mountain Boys

The Green Mountain Boys were a paramilitary [i] infantry organized in Southwestern Vermont [i] in the de ... 

 headquartered at the Catamount Tavern Catamount Tavern

The Catamount Tavern is located in Old Bennington [i], Vermont [i]. ... 

 in Bennington. What is clear is that the rebels moved north, managed to get a few dozen men across Lake Champlain Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain is a large lake [i] in North America [i], mostly within the borders of the United States [i] ... 

 . In a dawn attack, Ticonderoga was taken from the small British garrison that held it and who were apparently not aware that the war had started. Allen/Arnold's rebels also quickly captured forts at Crown Point Crown Point, New York

[i], [[United States|USA]... 

, Fort Ann on Isle La Motte Isle La Motte, Vermont

Isle La Motte is a town in Grand Isle County [i], Vermont [i], United States [i] ... 

 near the present Canadian border, and the town of St John . The huge stores of cannon and powder seized at Ticonderoga allowed the American rebels to break the stalemate at the siege of Boston Siege of Boston

The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the active American Revolutionary War [i], in which the Continental Army [i] ... 

, which caused the British to evacuate the city in March 1776.


The Green Mountain Boys Green Mountain Boys

The Green Mountain Boys were a paramilitary [i] infantry organized in Southwestern Vermont [i] in the de ... 

 elected Allen's cousin, Seth Warner Seth Warner

Seth Warner was born in Roxbury [i], Connecticut [i].... 

, as leader; however, Allen commanded a small military force in the American rebels' campaign in Quebec in 1775. As a result of miscommunication or misjudgment, he attacked Montreal with a handful of men and was captured by the British. He was shipped to England where he was imprisoned in Pendennis Castle Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle is a castle [i] in Cornwall [i], United Kingdom [i], built between 1540 and 1545 for King Henry VIII [i] ... 

, Cornwall Cornwall

Cornwall is a county [i] in South West [i]... 

, and suffered considerable mistreatment. On the third day of May, 1778, Ethan Allen was conducted to a sloop in the harbor at New York, in which he was guarded to Staten Island, to General Campbell’s quarters, where he was admitted to eat and drink with the general and several other of the British field-officers, and treated for two days in a polite manner. The following day Colonel Archibald Campbell was exchanged for Ethan Allen. The colonel was conducted by Colonel Elias Boudinot Elias Boudinot

Elias Boudinot was an early American lawyer and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey [i] who was a dele ... 

 , the American commissary general of prisoners who was appointed his position by General George Washington.

Allen then moved back to Vermont, which had become a hotbed of malcontent, harboring little affection for either England or for the nascent United States. Vermont was also harboring a significant number of deserters from the armies of both. Allen settled a homestead in the delta of the Winooski River Winooski River

The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain [i], approximately 90 miles long, in northern Vermont [i] ... 

 in what is the modern city of Burlington Burlington, Vermont

Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state [i] of Vermont [i] and is the Shire town [i] of Chittenden County [i] ... 

. Allen remained active in Vermont politics and was appointed general in the Army of Vermont. In 1778, Allen appeared before the Continental Congress on behalf of a claim by Vermont for recognition as an independent state. Allen then negotiated with the governor of Canada between 1780 and 1783, in order to establish Vermont as a British province. Because of this, the US charged him with treason; however, because the negotiations were demonstrably intended to force action on the Vermont case by the Continental Congress, the charge was never substantiated.

Ethan had five children with his first wife, Mary Brownson: Loraine , Joseph , Lucy Caroline , Mary Ann , and Pamela . Ethan's marriage to Mary, who was several years older than he, does not seem to have been particularly happy. Mary died of consumption in 1783, a few months before her eldest daughter. Ethan met his second wife, Frances Montresor Brush Buchanan, in 1784, fell in love and married her within a few months. They had three children: Fanny , Hannibal , and Ethan .

Allen died in 1789, of a stroke, at the age of 51.

Two ships of the United States Navy United States Navy

The United States Navy is the branch of the United States armed forces [i] responsible for conducting naval [i] ... 

 have been named Ethan Allen in his honor, as well as Fort Ethan Allen, a cavalry outpost, in Colchester and Essex, Vermont. The Spirit of Ethan Allen is the name of a tour boat line in Lake Champlain.

A statue of Allen represents Vermont in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.

Publications

Allen wrote a Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity ; a Vindication of the Opposition of Vermont to the Government of New York ; and Reason the Only Oracle of Man, or A Compendious System of Natural Religion .

Other Associates

  • Thomas Rowley was known as his spokesman, the "Bard of the Green Mountains" who "Set the Hills on Fire" for Ethan Allen.

Further reading

  • Allen, Ira, "The Natural and Political History of the State of Vermont." 1798, Charles E. Tuttle Co.: Publishers
  • Bellesiles, Michael A. Revolutionary Outlaws: Ethan Allen and the Struggle for Independence on the Early American Frontier. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993.
  • Hall, Henry. Ethan Allen. New York, 1892.


  • Holbrook, Stewart H. "Ethan Allen", New York: The MacMillan Company, 1940
  • Hoyt, Edwin P. "The Damndest Yankee: Ethan Allen & his Clan". Brattleboro, Vermont: The Stephen Greene Press, 1976.
  • Jellison, Charles A. Ethan Allen: Frontier Rebel. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1969.
  • Pell, John. Ethan Allen. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1929.

External links