About Thomas Starr King

Thomas Starr King (December 17, 1824-March 4, 1864) was a Universalist and Unitarian minister, who played a pivotal role in keeping California a part of the Union during the Civil War.

Starr King described the difference between Unitarians and Universalists this way – “Universalists believe that God is too good to damn people, and the Unitarians believe that people are too good to be damned by God.”

Starr King tirelessly advocated for the United States Sanitary Commission, a civilian organization that managed the health and medical care of the United States army and campaigned throughout the state of California for the preservation of the Union. The Union Army commander-in-chief, General Winfield Scott said Starr King “saved California to the Union.”

Of himself, he said, “But, though I weigh only 120 pounds, when I am mad I weigh a ton!”

Beyond his passion for advocacy, Starr King saw the church’s mission “is to hasten the time when the church in general shall modify her creeds and grant more freedom to thought and organize more charity, and receive again into fellowship the needful forces, which her narrowness has spurned.”

Starr King’s vision for various religious sects was “as the interpreter of Christianity…. The final justification of each sect is found when we can regard it as a new stop, or class of pipes, with an original constitution and quality, to pour out some essential sentiment with nobler volume, or richer melody, in response to the glory of God.”