Background
Chandler was born in Epping, New Hampshire, the brother of Thomas Chandler. His father was a captain in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, and had died in 1776. He enlisted in the Continental Army at age 15.
Chandler was born in Epping, New Hampshire, the brother of Thomas Chandler. His father was a captain in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, and had died in 1776. He enlisted in the Continental Army at age 15.
John Chandler was self-educated.
After the end of the war, he settled on a farm near Monmouth, Maine, then a part of Massachusetts. At the time, Chandler was both illiterate and without money. However, he had become the protégé of General Henry Dearborn, the future Secretary of War. Chandler borrowed $400 from the Dearborns and bought 200 acres (0.8 km²) of land. He became wealthy as a blacksmith.
He was also a founder of Monmouth Academy.
Democratic-Republican