1738
Ethan Allen, the legendary leader of the Green Mountain Boys, was born on January 21, 1738, in Litchfield, Connecticut. Allen became a central figure of the Revolution in 1775 when he and his militia, alongside Benedict Arnold, captured Fort Ticonderoga. The artillery seized there was later instrumental in forcing the British to evacuate Boston.
1777
During his first winter at the Arnold Tavern headquarters in Morristown, George Washington used January 21, 1777, to continue the reorganization of his depleted army. Following the “Ten Crucial Days” (Trenton and Princeton), Washington faced a shrinking force due to desertions and expiring enlistments. Around this date, he focused on new recruitment incentives, including cash bonuses and land bounties, while increasing military discipline. Morristown’s natural defenses, including the Watchung Mountains, allowed Washington to safely monitor British movements in New Brunswick without risking a major engagement during the winter.
1783
On January 21, 1783, international news focused on the diplomatic breakthroughs occurring at Versailles. The previous day, France and Spain had signed preliminary peace articles with Great Britain. Because the American preliminary treaty signed in November 1782 was contingent on these agreements, January 21 marked the first full day of a de facto cessation of hostilities between the primary global powers involved in the war.