Thomas Rutherford Bacon

Thomas Rutherford Bacon (June 26, 1850 in New Haven, Connecticut – March 26, 1913 in Berkeley, California[1]) was an American Congregational clergyman and leading Mugwump.

[2] In the wake of the presidential election of 1884, he relocated to the West Coast, where he became a professor of history at the University of California.

[10] The New York Times praised Bacon for his integrity and "manliness," and called him "the original mugwump of Connecticut.

In 1884, he resigned unexpectedly, after some gossiping members of his congregations ("without standing or influence") had apparently complained about him.

The congregation was, according to the papers, moved to tears when Bacon, who was described as "young, talented, eloquent, and popular," read his resignation letter.