"Liberty to the Downtrodden": Thomas L. Kane, Romantic Reformer

by Matthew J. Grow

Thomas L. Kane (1822–1883), a crusader for antislavery, women’s rights, and the downtrodden, rose to prominence in his day as the most ardent and persuasive defender of Mormons’ religious liberty. Though not a Mormon, Kane sought to defend the much-reviled group from the “Holy War” waged against them by evangelical America. His courageous personal intervention averted a potentially catastrophic bloody conflict between federal troops and Mormon settlers in the now nearly forgotten Utah War of 1857–58.

 

Drawing on extensive, newly available archives, this book is the first to tell the full story of Kane’s extraordinary life. The book illuminates his powerful Philadelphia family, his personal life and eccentricities, his reform achievements, his place in Mormon history, and his career as a Civil War general. Further, the book revises previous understandings of nineteenth-century reform, showing how Kane and likeminded others fused Democratic Party ideology, anti-evangelicalism, and romanticism.

Genres: Biography

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2009

Reviews

[Terry Earley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to read this bio of Thomas Kane after reading Richard E Bennett's assessment in the FARMS review of books:
http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publi...

Glad I read this. Kane was such an important figure in 19th century Mormon history. This bio illuminates his motivations as "romantic reformer". His unselfish actions now make more sense after understanding this context.

His interventions in the "Utah War", and in the mustering of the "Mormon Battalion" are much better known than his friendship and influence with Brigham Young. A very enlightening look at a remarkable life.

[Heloyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of an unusual but unique man who became advocate for many causes of reformation. Most interesting to me was his ardent support of the Latter-day Saints in a day when they were the target of so much persecution. His own life was a series of unusual choices as a result of his independent nature. The book, full of historical detail, is very academic in writing and needed a dictionary close by to clarify much of the author's writings.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading the introduction and I'm hooked. I can tell I will enjoy this book. Thomas Kane was an ardent defender of Mormon religious rights, though not a Mormon himself.