Young, Brigham
was born June 1, 1801, in Whitingham, Vt. In 1822 he founded the Mormon sect at Kirkland, Ohio; and was one of the apostles sent out to make converts in 1835. He was chosen president and prophet in 1844; abandoned Nauvoo in 1846, and persuaded his followers that Salt Lake Valley was the promised land. He settled there in 1847; and in 1849 organized a state called Deseret, but congress organized it as the territory of Utah, of which he was United States governor from 1850 to 1854. The Mormons having defied the federal government, President Buchanan, in 1857, sent a force to enforce its authority, and in 1858 a compromise was made. He had twelve actual wives, besides many who had been sealed to him as his spiritual wives. As the head of the Morman church he was long governor of the territory, and president by semi-annual election. He died Aug. 29, 1877.