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01.06.

1801: Brigham Young: Mormon Leader who had 55 Wives

1801: Brigham Young: Mormon Leader who had 55 Wives
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons

Story Highlights

  • Historical event:
  • 1 June 1801
  • His youngest wife was only 15 years old and the oldest 69. He married three of his wives when they were only 16, and six of them were already older than 60.

On this day the significant Mormon leader Brigham Young was born. He was referred to by some as the “American Moses” because of the large role he played in the early days of the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).



Specifically, Brigham Young led the Mormons to their new homeland in what is now the US state of Utah. This state is still predominantly Mormon. Indeed, Brigham Young founded Salt Lake City, the world center of the Mormon Church.

Brigham Young was the President of the Mormon Church for nearly 30 years. Namely, after the founder of this religion – Joseph Smith – was murdered in 1844, the Mormons moved far to the American west today’s Utah (they were found undesirable in their previous homeland).

In this so-called “exodus” to the west, the Mormons were led precisely by Brigham Young. He determined where the Mormons would build their new city – Salt Lake City. Today, this city with the surrounding area has a population of over one million.

A well-known university in Utah, called the “Brigham Young University”, was named after the Mormon leader. It is interesting that the “Brigham Young University” is the largest religious university in the entire United States.




Of course, Brigham Young was a polygamist, which was a practice established by another founder of the Mormon Church – the mentioned Joseph Smith. Brigham Young had as many as 55 wives. He had 56 or 57 sons and daughters with them.

Young had a big house called the “Lion House” in Salt Lake City. This house was very long, and each wife allegedly had her own front door, the key of which she kept in her pocket.

His wives were of very different ages when he married them. The youngest was only 15 years old, and the oldest 69. He married three of his wives when they were only 16, and six of them were already older than 60.

The last time Brigham Young married, he was 72 years old. He died at the age of 76.

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