George Quayle Cannon (1827-1901) - Find a Grave Memorial

Religious Leader. Born in Liverpool, England, his father became aware of the Mormon Gospel when his sister, Leonora Cannon, with her husband and future president of the church, John Taylor, was baptized by Parley P. Pratt in 1836. Four years later, John Taylor, while on a mission in England, baptized George Q. and his family. George's mother died during their emigration to Nauvoo in America. Two years after the family's arrival in Nauvoo, George's father also died. In 1849 he served a Mission to California and from there to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) where he served for four years. While thus engaged Elder Cannon published the first edition of the Book of Mormon in the Hawaiian language. After the murder of Parley P. Pratt, he was ordained an Apostle by President Brigham Young, entering the Quorum of the Twelve at the age of 33. A call to preside over the European Mission was cut short by his election to Congress and the need for pressing Utah's bid for statehood. The latter part of his life was marked by Federal persecution of Church members who practiced plural marriage. George Q. and his five wives were harassed by federal agents and in 1885 they were forced to go into seclusion. In 1888 he surrendered himself to authorities and served six months for cohabitation. In 1873, President Young called him to serve as a Counselor to the First Presidency. From that time until the time of his death, he served in the First Presidency, serving as Counselor to an unprecedented four Presidents of the Church; Brigham Young, John Taylor , Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow.

Bio by: John J