First British Invasion: Avon Program To Examines Revolutionary Incursions Into CT

AVON, CT — An upcoming presentation at the Avon Free Public Library will explore key British military campaigns in Connecticut during the American Revolution, as part of statewide commemorations of America’s 250th anniversary.

The program, called "Battlefield Connecticut: Three British Incursions During the War of the American Revolution," is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will be led by historian Francis Michael Coan.

It will take place at the Avon Free Public Library, located at 281 Country Club Road, Avon.

The talk will examine three major British expeditions: the 1777 raid on Danbury, the 1779 coastal campaign, and the 1781 attack on New London and Groton.

Coan, a Bristol native, is a military historian with academic credentials from Central Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut.

His research has focused on the origins and early history of the Connecticut National Guard, and he has published encyclopedia entries and book reviews on military subjects.

He taught history, geography, and American government at Tunxis Community College from 1991 until retiring in 2023, and chaired the Social Sciences and History Department from 2007 to 2019.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library and is part of a broader series marking the nation’s semiquincentennial.

Organizers ask attendees to register in advance to help plan seating in the library’s community room.

Additional programs tied to the anniversary are expected to continue throughout the year.

For more information and to register for the program, click on this link.