Thomas O. Larkin was born in Charlestown, Mass on September 16, 1802.
Early businesses took his health and hard-earned wealth, so Larkin decided
to locate his half-brother, John B.R. Cooper, who had married into California's
Vallejo family. He obtained space in the Newcastle, Captain Hersey,
bound to the Pacific coast in search of markets. She left Boston in September
1831, arrived at the Sandwich Islands in February 1832, then in San Francisco
in April 1832. Mr. Larkin stayed aboard, and found his brother when the
sailed into Monterey.
In 1833, Larkin was married on board of an American ship on the coast of
California by John C. Jones, U.S. consul of the Sandwich Islands. His wife,
from Massachusetts, was the first lady from the United States to settle
in California. He began exporting timber, lumber, singles, flour, potatoes,
soap, beaver and otter skins, and horses to the Sandwich Islands, Mazatlan
and Acapulco.
In 1844, Larkin was appointed U.S. consul for California -- the first and
last American consul ever appointed in the country.
Larkin is greatly responsible for bringing the American flag to California
-- he literally assisted in hoisting the national flag in four difference
places.
In July of 1853, along with Samuel Brannan, he was elected to office in
the "Society of California Pioneers". Brannan was elected President,
and Thomas O. Larkin was a Vice President.
From Mud-Flat Cove to Gold to Statehood: California 1840-1850
Irving Stone takes us on a journey that allows us to encounter the citizenry, experience the milestones, and appraise the events that forged the nation's most populous state.
Through his writing, experience the culture, the hardships, and the greatness of men such as John Sutter, John Bidwell, Samuel Brannan, Thomas O. Larkin, the Revered Walter Colton, and John Charles Fremont. Witness the terrible tragedy of the Donner Party and the long-battled for successes of so many others.