Stark, John (1728–1822)

American soldier. It was a detachment under his command that defeated the British forces at Bennington, Vermont in August 1777, a crucial victory followed by his cutting off John Burgoyne's retreat and leading to the British surrender at Saratoga.

He was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He served in the French and Indian War 1756–63. As colonel of a New Hampshire regiment, he fought at Bunker Hill, helped cover the retreat from Canada in 1776, and fought at Trenton and Princeton. He resigned in March 1777, but he was appointed brigadier general. He continued to fight to the end of the American Revolution but retired from public life after the war.