Brigham Young

Brigham Young was born in Whitingham, Vermont and worked as a carpenter and blacksmith as a young man. Young converted from the Methodist faith to Mormonism in 1832, shortly after the religion’s founding. He moved with other Mormons to establish a Mormon community in Kirtland, Ohio and assumed a leadership role within the church. After the death of the church’s founder, Joseph Smith, Young eventually became president of the church, holding this position from 1847 until his death in 1877. Young also served as the first governor of Utah Territory, founded Salt Lake City, and established the precursors to Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.