George Q. (George Quayle) Cannon

Born in Liverpool, England, in 1827, George Quayle Cannon immigrated to the United States with his family in 1842 and later traveled west with the Latter-day Saints. He became one of the best-known figures in early Utah, serving in many roles over the course of his life, including missionary, editor, publisher, businessman, educator, and church leader.

Cannon spent time as a missionary in Hawaii, worked in printing and journalism, and edited important church newspapers including the Deseret News. He also played a major role in public life, serving as Utah Territory’s delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1870s. Within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and later served in the First Presidency under four successive church presidents.

He died in 1901, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. His extensive journals, now published online, offer a detailed window into the religious, political, and everyday world of the 19th-century American West, making him especially valuable to readers interested in both Mormon history and the broader story of the frontier era.