ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. -- It was his work that drew protests when the national intelligence director spoke at a commencement, but it's his history lesson that has raised eyebrows.

John Negroponte spoke at commencement at the St. Johnsbury Academy, where his son was graduating, and commented during his speech that the town and the academy were named for St. John.

Actually, Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen named St. Johnsbury for Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur, a French author who wrote about the American experience, said Graham S. Newell, a local historian and former St. Johnsbury Academy teacher.

Negroponte's spokesman said it was an innocent mistake.