Live Free or Die: The Life and Times Of John Stark (Page Publishing, 2025) by William Baker Jr. is the story of how one of the American Revolution’s best battlefield commanders triumphed over the self-interest of others to play a major role in securing victory for the new republic.
Most often referred to as the “Hero of the Battle of Bennington,” John Stark also played pivotal roles in the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Trenton.
In the French and Indian War (1754-1763), he saw continuous action along the Richelieu River-Lake Champlain corridor as a member of Rogers’s Rangers. In the end, he became the conscience of the rangers when he voiced his disapproval of the motives and tactics of group leader Robert Rogers.
Stark’s actions at Bunker Hill, when his militia troops repeatedly repulsed British advances, avoided a disaster that would have snuffed out the rebellion.
Baker describes Stark as a modest man whose actions spoke louder than words, who leadership that day was all but ignored by New Hampshire’s rebel governing authority.
At Trenton, Stark was in the vanguard of George Washington‘s right flank along the River Road. It is likely that he also had a major role during both the Battle of Princeton and the Springfield Raid, though it is difficult to know for certain as most contemporary accounts are offered by those seeking self-glorification.
His reward for his ability to lead troops in combat was to be repeatedly spurned when Congress appointed general officers. Not one of those officers could challenge Stark’s record on the battlefield, says Baker. Completely frustrated, he quit the army and returned to his farm and sawmill in New Hampshire.
Three months later, with the British under John Burgoyne threatening to overrun New York and the New Hampshire Grants, he was persuaded to return. He did so on the condition that he would take no orders from any officer of the Continental Army.
At Bennington John Stark commanded a force of militia and Green Mountain Boys in a daring and complicated attack. They routed an entrenched enemy and almost entirely destroyed it. It was the beginning of the end of the British invasion from Canada until then a juggernaut that had seemed an inevitable defeat.
The book is a fine compliment to John F. Polhemus and Richard V. Polhemus’s Stark, The Life and Wars of John Stark: French & Indian War Ranger, Revolutionary War General (Black Dome Press, 2014).
Upcoming Virtual Event
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site is hosting William Baker Jr. for a discussion of his book.
The virtual talk at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 will be held via Zoom. Join via this link; no registration is necessary.
In this talk Baker will detail Stark’s long and remarkable life, sharing excerpts from his book. Baker was raised in Rochester, New York, and educated at Cornell, Oxford, and The Harley School. He lives in southern Maine with his wife, Louise.
A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.
Located in Walloomsac, in Rensselaer County, NY, Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site preserves the site of a Revolutionary War battle fought in two engagements on August 16, 1777, resulting in a decisive victory for the Americans.
Visitors to the battlefield will find a series of interpretive signs, a trail system, picnic area, and information building. Guided tours are offered frequently during the operating season and by appointment.
For more information, visit their website.
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