Mormon president; born in
Whitingham, Vt., June 1, 1801; joined the Mormons at
Kirtland, O., in 1832, and by shrewdness and energy soon became influential among them.
He was appointed one of the “apostles” sent out in 1835 to make converts; and on the death of
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, in 1844, became its president, prophet, and high-priest.
Informing his followers that the region
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Scene in the Yosemite Valley. |
of the
Great Salt Lake, in mid-continent, was the promised land of the Mormons, they abandoned
Nauvoo in 1846, after being cannonaded by exasperated citizens of that region.
The following year
Brigham Young led a few persons to Great Salt Lake Valley, and in May, 1848, the great body of the Mormons arrived there and founded
Salt Lake City.
Appointed the first territorial governor of
Utah, he
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assumed a political independence which was offensive to the United States government, and from time to time he gave the government much trouble.
In 1856
President Buchanan sent out a military force of 2,500 men to enforce its authority.
A compromise ended the disturbance.
Young had twelve actual wives, besides many who were sealed to him as “spiritual wives.”
He died in
Salt Lake City, Aug. 29, 1877.
See
Mormons.
