John Allen (December 30, 1771
– January 22, 1813) was a
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
politician and army officer who was killed in the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
.
Allen was born in
Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650. Its county seat is the city of Lexington. Rockbridge County completely surrounds the in ...
, and moved with his father to
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
in 1779.
He went to school in
Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown is a home rule-class city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 11,700 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nelson County.
Bardstown is named for the pioneering Bard brothers. David Bard obtained a l ...
and studied law in
Staunton, Virginia. He then returned to Kentucky to law practice in
Shelbyville. He was elected to the
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators. The Kentu ...
in 1807, and served until his death.
![Cemetery, Military Monument-3 cropped](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Cemetery%2C_Military_Monument-3_cropped.jpg)
Early in the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
, Allen raised the 1st Regiment of Riflemen to serve under General
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the ninth president of the United States. Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, and had the shortest pres ...
. Allen was commissioned its colonel. He was killed in action while leading his men at the
Battle of Frenchtown
The Battles of Frenchtown, also known as the Battle of the River Raisin and the River Raisin Massacre, were a series of conflicts in Michigan Territory that took place from January 18–23, 1813, during the War of 1812. It was fought between the ...
on the
River Raisin
The River Raisin is a river in southeastern Michigan, United States, that flows through Ice age, glacial sediments into Lake Erie. The area today is an agriculture, agricultural and Industrial sector, industrial center of Michigan. The river flo ...
in southeast
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
.
Allen County, Kentucky
Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,588. Its county seat is Scottsville. The county is named for Colonel John Allen, a state senator and soldier who was killed leading ...
was named for him in 1815.
He is also honored by
Allen County, Ohio
Allen County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The county seat is Lima. The county was created in 1820 and organized in 1831. The county is named in honor of Colonel John Allen, who was killed leading his ...
, and
Allen County, Indiana
Allen County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 385,410, making it the third-most populous county in Indiana. The county seat and largest city is Fort Wayne, the second largest city in Indiana ...
.
References
*Helen Winemiller Wood. The Naming of Allen County.
Lima, Ohio: Longmeier, 1984
American militia officers
1771 births
1813 deaths
People from Shelbyville, Kentucky
People from Rockbridge County, Virginia
American military personnel killed in the War of 1812
People from Kentucky in the War of 1812
Virginia colonial people
Kentucky lawyers
Kentucky state senators
American militiamen in the War of 1812
19th-century American lawyers
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