Allen French (1870–1946) was an American historian, biographer, and fiction writer who dedicated much of his career to documenting the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. Born in the late nineteenth century, French developed a deep interest in early American history, particularly the military and political events surrounding New England. His historical scholarship was characterized by meticulous archival research and a focus on primary sources, which helped reshape contemporary understanding of the revolutionary era.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, French published several highly regarded historical studies. Among his most notable contributions to the field are The Taking of Ticonderoga in 1775 (1928), General Gage's Informers (1932), and his comprehensive volume The First Year of the American Revolution (1934). He also edited historical documents, such as the diary A British Fusilier in Revolutionary Boston (1926), providing valuable primary material to fellow researchers and the public alike. His final major historical work, Charles I and the Puritan Upheaval, was published posthumously in 1955.
In addition to his academic and historical texts, French was an active writer of fiction. He authored numerous children's stories and historical novels, bridging the gap between rigorous historical inquiry and accessible storytelling. Through these diverse literary endeavors, French sought to bring the complexities of the past to life for readers of all ages.
