John Allen (soldier)

John Allen
Member of the Kentucky Senate
In office
1807–1813
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
1800–1807
Personal details
Born(1771-12-30)December 30, 1771
Rockbridge County, Virginia
DiedJanuary 22, 1813(1813-01-22) (aged 41)
River Raisin, Michigan Territory
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceKentucky militia
RankColonel
Commands1st Regiment of Riflemen
Battles/wars

John Allen (December 30, 1771[1][2] – January 22, 1813) was an American politician and army officer who was killed in the War of 1812.

Biography

Allen was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and moved with his father to Kentucky in 1779.[2] He went to school in Bardstown, Kentucky and studied law in Staunton, Virginia. He then returned to Kentucky to law practice in Shelbyville. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives from Shelby County in 1800, and remained a member of the chamber until his election to the Kentucky Senate in 1807, where he served until his death.

Allen ran for governor in 1808 against Charles Scott and Green Clay, placing second behind Scott with 23.4%.

Allen's name on the Kentucky War Memorial in Frankfort, KY along with other officers who died at the Battle of Frenchtown or in the subsequent massacre of wounded prisoners

Early in the War of 1812, Allen raised the 1st Regiment of Riflemen to serve under General William Henry Harrison. Allen was commissioned its colonel. He was killed in action while leading his men at the Battle of Frenchtown on the River Raisin in southeast Michigan.

Allen County, Kentucky was named for him in 1815.[3] He is also honored by Allen County, Ohio, and Allen County, Indiana.

References

  • Helen Winemiller Wood. The Naming of Allen County. Lima, Ohio: Longmeier, 1984
  1. ↑ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Allen, John". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Lanman, Charles (2005) [1871]. "Biographical History of Michigan". The red book of Michigan; a civil, military and biographical history. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. p. 415. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  3. ↑ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 34.
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