Eli Thayer (June 11, 1819 – April 15, 1899) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1857 to 1861.

With this aim in view, early in 1854 Thayer organized the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company to send anti-slavery settlers to the Kansas Territory.

[citation needed] The motives of Thayer in establishing the New England Emigrant Aid Company were questioned by historian David S. Reynolds, who wrote that Thayer "opposed slavery not on moral grounds but because [he] wanted to foster laissez-faire capitalism in the Territory.

[citation needed] Thayer wanted to establish an antislavery colony in Virginia, but land was too expensive.

[4] He enlisted fellow abolitionist Zopher D. Ramsdell to settle there and establish a boot and shoe factory.