Daniel H. Wells
A stalwart pioneer who helped govern the physical and spiritual landscape of early Utah as both a Mormon apostle and a civic founder.
1814–1891 (age 77)·American religious leader and politician·Birthday: October 27
Biography
Daniel H. Wells arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois, as a non-Mormon but was swiftly drawn into the fervor and community of the Latter-day Saints. Baptized in 1846, he threw his lot in with the migrating church just as it embarked on its epic exodus to the West. His organizational skill and unwavering loyalty propelled him into leadership. In the harsh environment of the Great Basin, Wells became indispensable. He served as a general in the territorial militia, the Nauvoo Legion, responsible for defense against perceived threats. He was simultaneously elected the third mayor of Salt Lake City, a role where he oversaw the practical challenges of building a city from the desert: planning streets, managing water, and establishing order. In 1857, he was ordained an apostle, joining the highest Quorum of the church, though he was never formally added to the Twelve. For decades, Wells operated at the intersection of the temporal and the theological, a tough-minded administrator who helped translate religious vision into a functioning society.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1814
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1814Born
1819Started school
1827Became a teenager
1830Could drive
1832Could vote
1835Turned 21
1844Turned 30
1854Turned 40
1864Turned 50
President: Abraham Lincoln
1874Turned 60
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1884Turned 70
President: Chester A. Arthur
1891Died at 77
President: Benjamin Harrison
Key Achievements
- Served as the 3rd Mayor of Salt Lake City for three terms, from 1866 to 1876, guiding its early development.
- Appointed as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church in 1857, holding high religious authority.
- Acted as a major general commanding the Nauvoo Legion, the militia of the Utah Territory, for over two decades.
- Served as a counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of the LDS Church from 1857 until Young's death in 1877.
Did You Know?
He was not a member of the LDS Church when he first moved to Nauvoo and was initially hired by Joseph Smith to do legal work for the city.
Wells County, Utah, was named in his honor, though it was later dissolved and absorbed into other counties.
He supervised the construction of the Salt Lake Theatre, a major cultural venue in early Utah known as the 'Cradle of the Drama' in the West.
Despite his high church position, he practiced plural marriage and had multiple wives.
“I will go where the Lord's people go, and build where they build.”
