General John Stark (1728 - 1822) was born at Londonderry (NH). His 18th century career as a military man during the French and Indian Wars and the American Revolution is summarized in "Likenesses of New Hampshire War Heroes and Personages", at www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/warheroes.
The State of New Hampshire first considered a monument to General Stark in 1885.
Working with a concurrent resolution of the House and Senate, Governor and Council appointed General George Stark, a descendent, to make inquiries about possible sculptors for a statue (see Council Records, December 10, 1885).
Nothing further happened until Sunday, July 16, 1889. On that day Dr. William Mackergo Thackeray, president of the American Missionary Association and the Congregational Church Building Society, pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle, and head of the Andover (MA) Theological Seminary, preached to the congregation of South Church, Concord, New Hampshire. During his sermon Dr. Taylor remarked, "I am not well enough informed of your affairs to know whether your State has erected a statue of General Stark, but it ought to if it has not."
Dr. Taylor's words electrified his Concord audience. The very next day the New Hampshire Sons of the American Revolution formed. The Sons appointed a committee of political and business leaders "to induce favorable action of the Legislature for the erection of a statue to General Stark." On August 13, 1889 the House of Representatives passed a resolution favoring erection of a statue of the General. The resolution became a concurrent resolution of the House and Senate a day later, and Governor Goodell signed the resolution as it cleared the Senate chamber.
By mid-January 1890 the committee appointed to pursue the creation of a statue to General Stark had solicited bids and received a number of models for the proposed work of art. The winning model was submitted by Carl Conrads, German-born and a veteran of the Union Army during the Civil War. Conrads worked for The New England Granite Works, of Hartford, Connecticut. His bid included the granite pedestal as well as the bronze statue.
The statue of General Stark was cast in bronze by the Ames Manufacturing Company, of Chicopee, Massachusetts. The granite pedestal was designed by architect John A. Fox, of Boston. The statue was dedicated on the State House lawn, October 23, 1890.