Brigham Young

Brigham Young (1801-77) was US Mormon leader. He was the chief of the Mormons, who succeeded Joseph Smith in 1844. He established their headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah where he served as governor from 1850 until 1857.

This Mormon polygamist chief was born at Whittingham, Vermont, U.S., was son of a small farmer; had no schooling, wrought as
carpenter, fell in with Joe Smith's brother, and embraced Mormonism in 1832; became one of the apostles of the Church and a preacher, and finally the head in 1851 after the settlement of the body at Utah; with all his fanaticism he was a worldly-wise man and a wise manager of secular affairs; died rich, leaving his fortune to 17 wives and 56 children.