ST. LOUIS – In 1861, Major General John C. Fremont issued an emancipation proclamation in St. Louis, freeing slaves in Missouri, a bold move that predated President Abraham Lincoln’s more famous Emancipation Proclamation by two years.

Fremont, known as the ‘Pathfinder’ for his explorations of the West, was appointed by Lincoln as the commander of the Union’s Department of the West during the early days of the Civil War. Missouri, a slave state, was deeply divided, and Fremont’s proclamation declared martial law and freed the slaves in the state.

Despite the limited immediate impact on the number of slaves freed, Fremont’s actions were significant in influencing the national debate on slavery and emancipation. His proclamation was controversial, leading to his removal from command after he refused Lincoln’s request to rescind it. Nevertheless, Fremont remained popular with abolitionists.

Fremont’s 1861 proclamation played a crucial role in shaping the discourse on slavery during the Civil War, highlighting St. Louis’s key position in the emancipation debate.

All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence.  It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.