The Vermont Historical Society will publish its next book, "Ira Allen: A Biography," in September. Written by eminent Vermont historian J. Kevin Graffagnino, this book is a new, full-length biography that examines Allen’s life and contributions to the founding of the state of Vermont.
Born on April 21, 1751, Ira Allen was a land speculator, revolutionary, pamphleteer, politician and empire builder, and was a key figure on the Green Mountain frontier. In a remarkable Vermont pioneer generation that included such noteworthy leaders as his brother Ethan Allen, Thomas Chittenden, Moses Robinson, Isaac Tichenor and Stephen Row Bradley, Ira stood out for his extraordinary energy, vision and accomplishments. He helped create and sustain the independent State of Vermont, held such important state offices as treasurer, surveyor general and member of the Governor’s Council, published hundreds of pages defending Vermont against a host of internal and external enemies and represented Vermont in negotiations with the British Empire, other American states and Congress.
J. Kevin Graffagnino’s biography ably details Ira Allen’s extraordinary life. As the first published examination of Allen’s career in nearly a century, this book shines new light on Allen and his prominent role in Vermont’s formative decades.
Graffagnino began his career at the University of Vermont library, where he served as curator of Vermont history from 1978 to 1995 and served as the Vermont Historical Socie.