John Stark was almost an old man when the Revolutionary War began, but he was full of patriotic spirit.

Fun Facts

• John Stark owned a farm and sawmill in New Hampshire. When he heard about the guns fired on colonists at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, he immediately gathered 400 men and marched to Massachusetts.
• He arrived in time to fill in a gap in the line at the Battle of Bunker Hill. If his men hadn’t been there, the British might have gotten through that line and caused much more damage.
• John was 46 years old, almost old age for that time period. He was made a general and went on to lead several battles.
• Two years later, he stopped the British at the Battle of Bennington.
• He said, “Live free or die; death is not the worst of evils,” which later became New Hampshire’s state motto.
• John Stark died in 1822 at the age of 94, the last of the Revolutionary War generals.

Vocabulary

1. Sawmill: a place where wood is milled into lumber
2. Colonist: someone living in the colonies

Questions and Answers

Question: Did someone ask John Stark to come from New Hampshire?

Answer: It doesn’t appear so. He had fought in the French and Indian War and had military experience. He saw a need and rose to the challenge.

Learn More

Watch videos about General Stark.