Ira Allen was Ethan's most notable younger brother. He was involved in all the early assemblies of Vermont revolutionaries and was appointed to one after another high position in the government of the independent Republic. He was Vermont's first Treasurer and Surveyor General. He was also a partner in the Onion River Land Company and an industrial developer. During the later years of the Republic, Ira was accused of misappropriating public funds and conflict of interest involving incompetent land surveying. He founded the University of Vermont and designed the Vermont State Seal.
In 1796, Ira instigated a scheme to unite Vermont with Canada and then join the French empire. He paid for a ship, called the "Olive Branch," and a cargo of 20,000 muskets plus cannon. The ship was seized and impounded by the British before it could reach it's Vermont destination. Ira became suddenly impoverished. He left Vermont in 1803 and died penniless in Philadelphia.
Michael J. Badamo, editor/publisher