King, Thomas Starr (1824-1864), was a Unitarian minister, humanitarian, and orator. He helped rally California’s support for the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865). King’s speeches played an important part in the state’s decision not to secede (withdraw) from the Union in 1861. During the war, he raised money for the United States Sanitary Commission, an organization that aided wounded soldiers and their families. A statue of King represented California in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., until 2009, when it was replaced by a statue of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States.
King was born on Dec. 17, 1824, in New York City. He became a grammar-school teacher at age 16 and principal at age 18. From 1848 to 1860, he was a pastor in Boston. In 1860, he became a pastor in San Francisco. He died on March 4, 1864.
