Doniphan, Alexander William

Person

Staff Only

Biography

Alexander William Doniphan (July 9, 1808-August 8, 1887) was a 19th-century American attorney, soldier and politician from Missouri who is best know today as the man who prevented the summary execution of Joseph Smith, Jr. at the close of the 1838 War. He also achieved renown as a leader of American troops during the Mexican-American War, as author of a legal code that still forms the basis of New Mexico's Bill of Rights, and as a successful defense attorney in the Missouri towns of Liberty, Richmond and Independence.

Found in 13 Collections and/or Records:

Ambrotype of Alexander William Doniphan

Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239283796]

Identifier: MSS 7392

Abstract

Ambrotype of Alexander William Doniphan

Dates: approximately 1857

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Robert Carson letter

File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230312313]

Identifier: MSS SC 1391

Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter written at Santa Fe, New Mexico and addressed to Carson's "Honored old friends" in Howard County, Missouri. Carson briefly recounts experiences and news about the war including the tremendous death toll from disease, the putting down of an "insurrection," and the activities and battles of General Alexander William Doniphan on the way to El Paso, Texas.

Dates: 1847

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Dudley H. Cooper letter to Benjamin Cooper

Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233287744]

Identifier: Vault MSS 234

Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, dated November 18, 1846, and addressed to Benjamin Cooper of Saline County, Missouri. Cooper writes about the activities of the United States Army under the command of A. W. Doniphan.

Dates: 1846 November 18

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Dudley H. Cooper papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS SC 302

Abstract

Correspondence, certificates, legal papers, business papers, newspaper clippings, personal letters and published material.

Dates: 1836-1877

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Alexander William Doniphan letter

Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233293254]

Identifier: Vault MSS 590

Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, written in Liberty, Missouri, addressed to John Chauncey, and dated June 11, 1836. Doniphan thanks Chauncey for a previous letter, discusses how annexing "the country to the west" will improve business and society, and reflects on various subjects such as women, marriage and babies.

Dates: 1836 June 11

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections