George Q. Cannon

George Quayle Cannon ( born January 11, 1827 in Liverpool, England; † April 12, 1901 in Monterey, California ) was an American politician. Between 1873 and 1881 he represented the Utah Territory as a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also a senior member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints.

Early years and career

George Cannon attended the public schools of his native England. In 1842 he came with his father to the United States; the mother had died during the crossing. The family settled in Nauvoo, Illinois. Cannon was a member of the local religious community of Mormons. After the assassination of church leader Joseph Smith moved with his church to Salt Lake City later in Utah Territory. Smith's successor as head of the Mormon Church, Brigham Young, George Cannon sent to California in 1849 and 1850 to Hawaii, where he was active in mission. In 1854, Cannon returned to Salt Lake City. There he worked in the printing industry. Between 1856 and 1857 he published the newspaper " Western Standard ". From 1867 to 1879, he moved with a three -year hiatus in the years 1874 to 1877 the Deseret News.

Political career

George Cannon was a member of the Republican Party. He became a member of the Executive Board and then -Chancellor of the University of Deseret, later the University of Utah emerged from the. In the congressional elections of 1872 George Cannon was elected as delegates to the Utah Territory in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, where he replaced William Henry Hooper on March 4, 1873. After several re- elections he could hold such office until March 3, 1881.

In the congressional elections of 1880 took place in Utah Territory to turbulence. The new territorial governor Eli Houston Murray was an opponent of the Mormons and supported the Liberal Party, which was opposed in principle to ecclesiastical candidates in political offices. Thus, it was also opposed to you redial Cannons. The election results themselves spoke for Cannon. He won with 18,567 votes clearly against the liberal candidate Allen G. Campbell, who received 1357 votes. As a result, there were protests against Cannons election and the election challenge. Substance this was, among other things with the accusation that Cannon was born in England, had not been obtained American citizenship and was thus not selectable as a foreigner. Another allegation was related to the permitted polygamy by the Mormons. Polygamy is incompatible with the laws of the United States, and the oath of office of members of Congress; Cannon was simultaneously married with five women. Governor Murray joined these arguments and appointed Campbell as a delegate in the U.S. Congress.

In Washington Cannon lodged a complaint received by the Congress government permission to act as a delegate for the Utah Territory. Also, Campbell traveled to the German capital. There, the dispute went up to the year 1882 on. On February 25, 1882, the House of Representatives decided that neither of the two candidates is entitled to exercise the mandate. Cannon was not excluded because of his citizenship in question, but because of the question of polygamy. As a result of the dispute called the Edmunds Act was passed, after polygamy was a crime. The supporters of polygamy were excluded from the active and passive right to vote. They also were not allowed to serve as jurors in court. The free seating of delegates for Utah went to John Thomas Caine.

Further CV

After leaving Congress activity George Cannon returned to Salt Lake City. He was one of the directors of the railroad company Union Pacific Railroad and board member of several companies. He also became involved further in the Mormon Church, in whose hierarchy he rose higher and higher as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. At the time of his death he was in second place of the church leadership. He died on 12 April 1901. The then head of the Church, Lorenzo Snow, died in October of the same year and Cannon would then become his successor. George Cannon had a total of 32 children. Some of the sons were later also hold high church offices. The son Frank was also a delegate to Congress, and later became the first Class 1 category Senator from Utah.