American philosopher and patriot who, as an American revolutionary leader, helped capture the British fort at Ticonderoga, New York (10 May 1775). The book he published in 1785, Reason, the Only Oracle of Man was a financial loss—only two hundred of the 1500 copies printed of the original edition were sold. It was, however, reprinted after his death, with a fifth edition by 1849. No picture of Allen was made in his lifetime, so any image (including that shown here), engraving or sculpture is an only an artist's impression.