Origins & Early Life

Ethan Allen (21 January 1738 [O.S. 10 January 1737] – February 12, 1789) was an American farmer, writer, military officer, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of Vermont and for the capture of Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolutionary War, and was also the brother of Ira Allen and the father of Fanny Allen. Allen was born in rural Connecticut and had a frontier upbringing, but he also received an education that included some philosophical teachings.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the late 1760s, he became interested in the New Hampshire Grants, buying land there and becoming embroiled in the legal disputes surrounding the territory. Legal setbacks led to the formation of the Green Mountain Boys, whom Allen led in a campaign of intimidation and property destruction to drive New York settlers from the Grants. He and the Patriot-aligned Green Mountain Boys seized the initiative early in the Revolutionary War and captured Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. In September 1775, Allen led a failed attempt on Montreal which resulted in his capture by the British. He was imprisoned aboard ships of the Royal Navy, then paroled in New York City, and finally released in a prisoner exchange in 1778....

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Cesare Beccaria — Contemporary (Born in 1738) (1738): Pioneering jurist whose work reformed criminal justice and condemned torture.
• Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis — Contemporary (Born in 1738) (1738): British general officer, politician, and administrator famed for his role in the American War of Independence.
• George III — Contemporary (Born in 1738) (1738): British monarch who reigned from 1760 to 1820, marking the union of Great Britain and Ireland.
• Augustin-Louis Cauchy — Contemporary (Born in 1789) (1789): Pioneered real and complex analysis, fundamentally shaping modern mathematics.
• Friedrich List — Contemporary (Born in 1789) (1789): Pioneering economist who developed nationalist political economy theory.
• Georg Ohm — Contemporary (Born in 1789) (1789): Pioneering physicist who established Ohm's Law, detailing the relationship between voltage and current.
• Bernard Mandeville — Shared historical date (01-21 · Died) (1733): Anglo-Dutch philosopher, satirist, and physician known for 'The Fable of the Bees'.
• Billy Ocean — Shared historical date (01-21 · Born) (1950): Trinidadian-British R&B singer known for international hits from the 1970s to 1980s.
• Abraham Lincoln — Shared historical date (02-12 · Born) (1809): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Anna Pavlova — Shared historical date (02-12 · Born) (1882): Iconic Russian prima ballerina, famed for 'The Dying Swan' and global tours.
• 1738 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1738
• January 21 (01-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 21
• 1789 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1789
• February 12 (02-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 12