Ethan Allen 1738 – 1789

Biography

Ethan Allen became a defining figure of the American Revolution through sheer force of will and tactical brilliance. Born in colonial Connecticut, Allen built a reputation as a fearless military strategist and fiery advocate for Vermont’s independence—first from New York, then alongside the thirteen colonies against British rule. His leadership of the Green Mountain Boys militia made him a folk hero of the frontier, a man who could command respect from both soldiers and statesmen.

But Allen was never just a soldier. He juggled farming, military command, and political office with the resourcefulness demanded of colonial-era leaders, proving himself as capable managing land as he was managing conflict. This versatility—moving seamlessly between plow and sword to statesman’s desk—reflected the kind of total civic commitment that defined revolutionary-era heroes.

Allen died February 12, 1789, of a stroke at age fifty, just as the new nation he’d fought for was taking shape. He was buried at Greenmount Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont, the community he’d served and shaped for decades. His legacy endures as one of Revolutionary America’s most magnetic personalities.