Ethan Allen was born on January 10, 1737 in Litchfield, Connecticut. In response to his father's desire for religious freedom, his family moved to Cornwall, Connecticut shortly after his birth. After his father's death in 1755, Allen was forced to abandon his biblical studies, at which he excelled, being able to quote biblical passages and at the same time give them meaning. Just two years later, in 1757, he became a volunteer soldier in the French and Indian War. The reason for his accession was in response to French movements in the British colonies. Before he and his unit made it to Fort William Henry, he received word that the fort had fallen to enemy control, and as a result, his unit turned back. Although the war would continue for several years, Allen left military service to pursue land speculation or farming. He continued to operate his farm until the year 1762, when he became part owner of an iron forge at Salisbury, Connecticut. According to stories written by his brother Ira Allen, Ethan was the “quintessential lumberjack. He could catch deer by chasing them until they collapsed from exhaustion. (Page No. 1, Schlesigner) Another popular legend written by Ira about the woodcutter was called "among the greatest dangers" of his adventurous life. It refers to a time when Ethan Allen was hiking in the woods when he was caught in a cold rain. With sunset a blizzard came and his damp clothes froze to his body. Knowing that falling asleep would mean certain death, he kept moving. “So he drew a circle in the snow, around which he trudged continually, through the dark hours. Ethan staggered and fell more than once. Each time he forced himself to keep marching, which saved his life... middle of paper ......unt Burlington Cemetery, with many people arriving at his funeral considering him "their champion". Quoted "Ethan Allen". Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition (2013): 1. Premier academic research. Network. January 8, 2014.Bauserman, Mark A. “Allen, Ethan.” In Tucker, Spencer C., gen. and. Encyclopedia of American Military History. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EMHI0018&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 8, 2014). Aronson, VA. "'The Boy from the Green Mountain'." Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr., Senior Consulting Editor. Ethan Allen, Revolutionary War Leader. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2000. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=RLEA02&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 8, 2014).