Peder Sather facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peder Sather
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Sather in 1865
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Peder Sather
September 25, 1810 Disenå, Norway
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| Died | December 28, 1886 (aged 76) Oakland, California, US
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Peder Sather (born September 25, 1810 – died December 28, 1886) was a banker from Norway who moved to America. He is best known for his important contributions to the University of California, Berkeley. His wife, Jane K. Sather, gave money in his memory for two of the school's most famous buildings. These are Sather Gate and Sather Tower, which many people call The Campanile. Both of these landmarks are registered as California Historical Landmarks and are also on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Peder Sather's Life Story
Peder Pedersen Sæther was born in Odal, a traditional area in eastern Norway. He grew up on a farm called Nordstun Nedre Sæther. His parents were Peder Larsen and Mari Kristoffersdatter.
Before moving to New York City around 1832, Sæther worked as a fisherman. He then joined the banking company Drexel & Co. in Philadelphia. He worked there until 1850.
Starting a Bank in California
A banker from Philadelphia named Francis Martin Drexel offered to help Peder Sather. Drexel wanted Sather and his business partner, Edward W. Church, to start a bank in San Francisco. So, in 1850, Sather and Church moved to San Francisco. They opened their own banking firm called Drexel, Sather & Church.
By 1863, Peder Sather became the only owner of the bank. He grew very successful and became one of the richest people in California. After he passed away, his banking firm joined with the Bank of California. Peder Sather was also a trustee for the College of California. This college later became the University of California, Berkeley.
Sather's Family Life
Peder Sather's first wife was Sarah Thompson. She was born in 1808 and passed away in 1881. They had four children together. Their children were Caroline Eugenia, Josephine Frederikke, Mary Emma, and Peder B. Sather. Josephine Frederikke later married a man named Bruguière. Sadly, she died when a ship called the SS Arabic was hit by a torpedo in 1915. Peder Sather was also the grandfather of a famous photographer named Francis Bruguière.
In 1882, Peder Sather married for a second time. His second wife was a widow named Jane Krom Read (1824-1911). Four years after Peder's death, Jane made generous donations. She gave money to build Sather Gate and Sather Tower at UC Berkeley. Both landmarks are named to honor Peder. She also created a special fund for the Sather Professorship of Classical Literature at the University. This fund helps support studies in ancient Greek and Roman literature.
Peder Sather Symposium
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The Peder Sather Symposium is a special event that happens every two years. It is organized by the governments of Norway and Sweden, along with UC Berkeley. The main goal of this symposium is to help people understand political, economic, and cultural topics better. It brings together experts and leaders to discuss important global and national issues.
Sather Classical Lectures
The Sather Classical Lectures are a series of talks given each year. A chosen expert, called the Sather Professor, gives these lectures. The talks are about topics from the ancient Greek and Roman world. There are usually about six lectures, and they are often published as books. Many famous scholars have given these lectures, including Lily Ross Taylor and Ronald Syme.
