The New Student's Reference Work/Young, Brigham

Young, Brigham, the noted head of the Mormon church, was born at Whittingham, Vt., June 1, 1801. In 1832, having become a convert to Mormonism, he was made an elder of the church, and began to preach at the Mormon settlement at Kirtland, O. Three years later he was sent as a missionary to New England, where he made quite a number of converts. After the death of Joseph Smith at Nauvoo, Ill., in 1844, Young was chosen president in his place. In 1847 he led his followers to Utah, (q. v.) and founded Salt Lake City. Here, under his able leadership, the community prospered, other settlements were established, and the foundations of the present state were laid. He died on August 29, 1877, leaving a fortune estimated at $2,000,000, See Mormons.