Ethan Allen

Lore & Background

Allen was born in Litchfield, Connecticut Colony, the first child of Joseph and Mary Baker Allen, both descended from English Puritans. The family moved to Cornwall shortly after his birth due to his father's quest for freedom of religion during the Great Awakening. As a boy, Allen excelled at quoting the Bible and was known for disputing the meaning of passages. He had five brothers and two sisters. His brothers Ira and Heman were also prominent figures in the early history of Vermont. Allen began studies under a minister with the goal of gaining admission to Yale College, but was forced to end his studies upon his father's death in 1755. He volunteered for militia service in 1757 but did not participate in further military activities during the French and Indian War. In 1762, he became part owner of an iron furnace in Salisbury and married Mary Brownson. They had five children, only two of whom reached adulthood. Allen met Thomas Young, a doctor who taught him philosophy and political theory, and they collaborated on a manuscript that Allen later published as Reason: the Only Oracle of Man.

Reader's Guide

Ethan Allen's significance lies in his role as a founder of Vermont and his early military action at Fort Ticonderoga, which provided crucial artillery for the Continental Army. His leadership of the Green Mountain Boys in resisting New York's authority over the New Hampshire Grants helped shape the territory's independent identity. After his capture and imprisonment by the British, he returned to political activity, lobbying Congress for Vermont's state recognition and engaging in controversial negotiations with the British about Vermont becoming a separate province. His writings, including accounts of his war exploits and philosophical treatises, were widely read in the 19th century. Allen's business dealings included farming, iron works, and land speculation, and he and his brothers purchased tracts that became Burlington, Vermont. His legacy is tied to the contested founding of Vermont and the early Revolutionary War.

Did You Know?

• Allen was born in Litchfield, Connecticut Colony, and his family moved to Cornwall shortly after his birth due to his father's quest for freedom of religion during the Great Awakening.
• He was captured by the British in September 1775 after a failed attempt on Montreal and was imprisoned aboard ships of the Royal Navy before being released in a prisoner exchange in 1778.
• Allen and his brothers purchased tracts of land that became Burlington, Vermont.
• He published a philosophical treatise titled Reason: the Only Oracle of Man, based on a manuscript he began with Thomas Young.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"The gods of the valley are not the gods of the hills, and you shall understand it." — Ethan Allen "In the name of the great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress!" — Ethan Allen "It is bad policy to fear the resentment of an enemy." — Ethan Allen "I didn’t hire you to come here and lie! That’s a true note. I signed it. I’ll pay it.… What I employed you for was to get this business put over to the next court — not come here and lie and juggle about it!" — Ethan Allen