Thomas L. (Thomas Leiper) Kane

Born in Philadelphia on January 27, 1822, Thomas Leiper Kane was a lawyer, abolitionist, and public figure with wide-ranging interests. He became known early for his opposition to slavery and later built a reputation as a determined defender of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a time when its members faced intense persecution.

Kane played an important role in helping Latter-day Saints during the migration west and in tensions between the federal government and Utah Territory. During the American Civil War, he served in the Union Army and rose to the rank of major general by brevet. His life combined political activism, military service, and a strong sense of personal duty.

He died on December 26, 1883. Today he is remembered as an unusual and influential ally: a non-Mormon advocate whose efforts left a lasting mark on both western American history and the story of religious liberty in the United States.