When it comes to New Hampshire heroes, they don’t get any bigger
than Gen. John Stark. His statue stands before the state capitol
and his legend looms large. Tradition says he coined the famous
Granite State motto "Live free or die." READ: NH at Bunker Hill
New Hampshire's most famous soldier, Gen. John Stark, the hero
of Bunker Hill and Bennington, was the right man in the right
place at the right time. His early training with his father in
heavy farm work and lumbering operations, his later practice in
hunting and trapping, his capture by the Indians and his study
of their language and customs, all led to his success as a
member of Rogers' Rangers in the French and Indian Wars. This in
turn fostered the soldierly quality of leadership that he showed
so strongly in the Revolution. He developed an ability to
foresee what the enemy would do and to forestall him, thus
gaining distinction among Revolutionary officers. Stark's life
encompassed the whole revolutionary period, and he was
instrumental in the catacly