Lajos “Louis” Kossuth (1802-1894) was a leader of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution against the Austrian Empire. The rebels demanded drastic political and social reforms and were attempting to establish an independent republic. At first, they were successful in driving out the Austrian forces, but when the Austrians received military assistance from Russia, the tide turned and Kossuth fled to the Ottoman (Turkish)Empire in 1849.

The Hungarian cause struck a positive chord in the United States because it represented for Americans, their own cherished values of freedom. With the assistance of a U.S. warship, Kossuth left the Ottoman Empire in the fall of 1851 and arrived in the United States on December 5, 1851, thirteen days before he sent this letter to Thomas M’Clintock, thanking him for raising funds for the cause.

This letter from Louis Kossuth to Thomas M’Clintock illustrates the global nature of reform in the late 1840s and the far-ranging reform activities of the M’Clintock’s and other Progressive Quakers in the Waterloo area.

New York  Dec 18, 1851

Sir
I have with much gratification received your obliging letter enclosing me the sum of $250 which you and your associates have contributed to the cause of my Fatherland.

Be assured, my dear Sir that your gift shall be devoted to the cause of Hungary and to the advancement of civil and religious liberty.

Allow me again to thank you, and through you the noble men and women who have so generously contributed to the cause of humanity, and believe me, Sir to be with the highest regards

Your obedient Servant
L Kossuth


(From the collections of the Women's Rights National Historical Park)

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