John Allen (soldier)

John Allen (December 30, 1771cite book |editor=Kleber, John E. |others=Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter |title="The Kentucky Encyclopedia" |year=1992 |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=Lexington, Kentucky |isbn=0813117720 |chapter=Allen, John] or 1772cite book |last=Lanman |first=Charles |title=The red book of Michigan; a civil, military and biographical history |origyear=1871 |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bac8753.0001.001 |accessdate=2007-04-14 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=p. 415 | chapter=Biographical History of Michigan |chapterurl=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bac8753.0001.001;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=431;page=root;size=s ] – January 22, 1813) was an American Army officer killed in the War of 1812.

Allen was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and went with his father to Kentucky in 1780. He went to school in Bardstown, Kentucky and studied law in Staunton, Virginia. He returned to Kentucky to law practice in Shelbyville from 1801 to 1807. That year he went to the Kentucky Senate, serving until his death.

With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Allen raised a regiment of riflemen for service under General William Henry Harrison. He was commissioned a colonel and died at the Battle of Frenchtown on the River Raisin in southeast Michigan.

Allen is the namesake of Allen County, Kentucky, Allen County, Ohio, and Allen County, Indiana.

References

*Helen Winemiller Wood. The Naming of Allen County. Lima, Ohio: Longmeier, 1984