John Stark (1728-1822)
John Stark was born in Londonderry (Derry), New Hampshire, and served with Rogers’ Rangers during the French and Indian War. He was quick to answer the call for soldiers at the outbreak of the Revolution, and would play a major role in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Taking up a position on the left flank of the main Patriot position on Breed’s Hill, his men fought off three successive attacks with well-timed volleys of musket fire delivered at close range. Stark would go on to serve with Washington at Trenton and Princeton and later scored a key victory over a detachment of Hessian troops at the Battle of Bennington, helping defeat General Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga.