Skip to main content

Young, Brigham, 1801-1877

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1801 - 1877

Biography

Brigham Young (1801-1877) was a Latter-day Saint ecclesiastical leader and politician in Utah.

Brigham Young was born on June 1, 1801, in Witingham, Vermont. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832, and moved to Kirtland, Ohio. He followed the migration of the Church from Ohio to Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois. In February 1846, he led the "Mormon Exodus" to the West, and was sustained as the second president of the Church on December 27, 1847. Arriving in Utah, he settled in Salt Lake City, and in 1849 was appointed as governor of Utah Territory. Young passed away on August 29, 1877, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Its Proclamation by the governor, 1853: t.p. (Brigham Young)

Webster's new biog. dict. (Young, Brigham, governor, 1849-1857)

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1992: page 1650 (Young, Brigham, b. June 1, 1801, Whitingham, Vermont; d. Aug. 29, 1877, Salt Lake City, Utah; occupation: carpenter-glazier; President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dec 27, 1847-Aug 29, 1877; President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, April 14, 1840; Apostle, Feb. 14, 1835) pages 1601-1605 (Brigham Young, colonizer, territorial governor, and president of the Church of Jeus Christ of Latter-day Saints, moved to Auburn, New York in 1815; moved to Port Byron, New York in 1823; married Oct 5, 1824; after four years in Port Byron moved to Oswego; 1828 moved to Mendon; baptized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spring of 1832; 1833 moved to Kirtland, Ohio; 1834 Zion's Camp; 1838 moved to Caldwell County, Missouri; 1839 moved to Commerce, later renamed Nauvoo, Illinois; February 1846 left Nauvoo; arrived Salt Lake Valley, July 24, 1847) page 1605 (built home in Salt Lake City and eventually Provo and St. George) page 1607 (1849 established the perpetual emigrating fund)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Addison Everett diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230336080]
Identifier: MSS 1054
Scope and Contents

Typescript of a diary covering the time from 13 to 26 April 1847. Everett was a driver of Brigham Young's ox team. He writes about the organization of the first Mormon migrant company to come to Utah.

Dates: 1847
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Addison Everett diary

Charles C. Rich papers

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1052
Scope and Contents

Photocopies and photographs of handwritten and typed letters, biographical notes, and diary excerpts. The materials relate to Rich's career as a Mormon Church leader. They include diary excerpts from 1836, a letter from Brigham Young (1801-1877) telling about his arrival in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah in 1847, a blessing for Rich's mission to Europe, an essay on the establishment of a Mormon colony in San Bernardino, California, and biographical notes on Rich's life in Logan, Utah.

Dates: 1836-1909
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Charles C. Rich papers

Samuel W. Richards sworn oath

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230308436]
Identifier: MSS SC 1056
Scope and Contents Oath sworn before Martin S. Lindsay, Notary Public, in Salt Lake City on 11 Dec. 1903. The document affirms that Richards was among 25 young men who were called during the winter of 1843-4 by the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), to explore the mountains in the West for a place where the Mormons could go to avoid persecution. Richards states that the men had weekly meetings to prepare for the trip and the decision to explore the West was made by Joseph Smith and not by his successor...
Dates: 1903
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Samuel W. Richards sworn oath

Brigham Young letter to George Q. Cannon

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231567519]
Identifier: MSS 577
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a handwritten and signed letter, dated November 3, 1859, and addressed to George Q. Cannon. Young writes about the arrival of pioneers to Utah, comments positively on the economic impact of the Johnson's army at Camp Floyd, Utah, states the advantages of the territorial legislature meeting in Salt Lake City rather than in Fillmore, Utah, and infroms Cannon of his appointment to the office of an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to fill the vacancy made...
Dates: 1859 November 3
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brigham Young letter to George Q. Cannon

Brigham Young letter to Harriet Elizabeth Cook Campbell Young

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233284808]
Identifier: Vault MSS 64
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter dated March 25, 1846 and addressed to Harriet Cook Young, one of Brigham Young's wives. Brigham Young writes about the prospects of the Mormons migrating to the West.

Dates: 1846 March 25
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brigham Young letter to Harriet Elizabeth Cook Campbell Young

Brigham Young letter to William L. Marcy

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230342682]
Identifier: MSS 815
Scope and Contents Contains photocopies of two handwritten and signed letters dated December 17, 1845 and addressed to William L. Marcy, Secretary of War for the United States. The two items are identical in content, but one appears to be a rough draft of the other. Young petitions the federal government for funds to aid in the westward migration of Mormons from Nauvoo, Illinois, with Vancouver Island as a possible destination. Young requests money to build block houses and stockades on the Oregon Trail and...
Dates: 1845 December 17
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brigham Young letter to William L. Marcy

Brigham Young letters to Harriet Elizabeth Cook Campbell Young

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232489663]
Identifier: MSS 576
Scope and Contents

Photographs of handwritten letters addressed to "Hariot Cook," "my dear wife." The items were written when Young was in Iowa moving west as leader of the Mormons. Young urges Cook, who was still in Nauvoo, Illinois, to join him in Iowa.

Dates: 1846
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brigham Young letters to Harriet Elizabeth Cook Campbell Young

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.