Ezra Taft Benson
22 Feb. 1811 - 3 Sept. 1869. Farmer, hotelier, postmaster, merchant. Born in Mendon, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Benson and Chloe Taft. Married Pamelia Andrus, 1 Jan. 1832, in Northbridge, Worcester Co. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, by winter 1838. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 1840, in Quincy. Ordained an elder, Oct. 1840, in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Ordained a high priest; appointed second counselor in Quincy stake presidency, 25 Oct. 1840. Served missions to eastern U.S., 1842–1843, 1844–1845, 1847–1848. Participated in plural marriage during JS’s lifetime. Ordained an apostle, 16 July 1846, at what became Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young pioneer company, arriving 24 July 1847. Served in Utah territorial legislature, 1851–1869. Served as counselor in British/European mission, 1856–1857. Appointed as president of Cache Valley stake, 1860, in Cache Co., Utah Territory. Served mission to Sandwich Islands, 1864. Died at Ogden, Weber Co., Utah Territory; buried in Logan, Cache Co.
Filter Activities
Clear AllBorn in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
1811 February 22
Date Details
Occurred On 1811 February 22
Birth
Relationships
Father
John Benson
Mother
Chloe Taft
Married Pamelia Emma Andrus
1831 (Age 19)
Baptized
1840 July 19 (Age 29)
Called as Missionary
Joseph Smith Presidential Campaign Mission
1844 April 15 (Age 33)
1844 April 15 (Age 33)
Start Date Details
Called
End Date Details
Ended On 1844
Released
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
High Priest
Location Served
Massachusetts, New Jersey
Mission Qualifier
Proselytizing
Married Adeline Brooks Andrus
1844 April 27 (Age 33)
Called as Missionary
Central States Mission
1844 October 8 (Age 33)
1844 October 8 (Age 33)
Start Date Details
Called
End Date Details
Start Date Not Found
Released
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
High Priest
Mission Qualifier
Proselytizing
Married Desdemona Wadsworth Fullmer
1846 January 26 (Age 34)
Departed from Home as Missionary
Early Church Mission: North America Mission
1846 June 1 – July 4 (Age 35)
1846 June 1 – July 4 (Age 35)
Start Date Details
Departed from Home
End Date Details
Ended On 1846 July 4
Arrived at Home
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Mt. Pisgah, Mexico Territory
Priesthood Office When Called
High Priest
Location Served
Mt. Pisgah
Mission Qualifier
Other
Set Apart as Apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
1846 July 16 – 1869 September 3 (Age 35)
1846 July 16 – 1869 September 3 (Age 35)
Start Date Details
Set Apart
End Date Details
Ended Circa 1869 September 3
Died in Position
Called as Missionary
Early Church Mission: North America Mission
1846 July 25 – August 19 (Age 35)
1846 July 25 – August 19 (Age 35)
Start Date Details
Called
End Date Details
Ended On 1846 August 19
Released
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
Apostle
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Location Served
Pisgah, Harrison, Iowa, United States
Mission Qualifier
Other
Additional Notes
Served as traveling missionary and in leadership of branches in Zion.
Mission Companionship
Married Eliza Ann Parry
1847 March 4 (Age 36)
Married Lucinda Burton
1847 March 18 (Age 36)
Joined Brigham Young Vanguard Company
1847 April 16 – July 21 (Age 36)
Start Date Details
Joined When Organization was Formed
End Date Details
Ended On 1847 July 21
Organization was Ended
Additional Information
Additional Notes
Called to help organize a company for the westward journey (D&C 136:12-14).
Departed from Home as Missionary
Eastern States Mission
1847 December 28 – 1848 April 30 (Age 36)
1847 December 28 – 1848 April 30 (Age 36)
Start Date Details
Departed from Home
End Date Details
Ended On 1848 April 30
Arrived at Home
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
Apostle
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Location Served
Eastern States
Mission Qualifier
Proselytizing
Appointed as Company Captain
Ezra T. Benson Company
1849 July 15 – October 29 (Age 38)
1849 July 15 – October 29 (Age 38)
Start Date Details
Appointed
End Date Details
Ended Between 1849 October 25 – 29
Organization was Ended
Additional Information
Married Mary Knight
1851 July 12 (Age 40)
Departed from Home as Missionary
Early Church Mission: North America Mission
1851 September 24 (Age 40)
1851 September 24 (Age 40)
Start Date Details
Departed from Home
End Date Details
Start Date Not Found
Released
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Great Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
Apostle
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Location Served
Perpetual Emigrating Company
Mission Qualifier
Other
Joined John Taylor Independent Company
1852 – 1852 August 20 (Age 40)
Start Date Details
Started Circa 1852
Joined When Organization was Formed
End Date Details
Ended On 1852 August 20
Organization was Ended
Married Elizabeth Gollaher
1853 June 4 (Age 42)
Appointed as Company Captain
Orson Pratt/Ezra T. Benson/Ira Eldredge Company
1854 June 21 – October 3 (Age 43)
1854 June 21 – October 3 (Age 43)
Start Date Details
Started Between 1854 June 21 – 22
Appointed
End Date Details
Ended On 1854 October 3
Organization was Ended
Called as Missionary
British Mission
1856 – 1858 January 19 (Age 44)
1856 – 1858 January 19 (Age 44)
Start Date Details
Called
End Date Details
Ended On 1858 January 19
Arrived at Home
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Great Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
Apostle
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Location Served
Great Britain
Mission Qualifier
Proselytizing
Appointed as Company Captain
Orson Pratt/Ezra T. Benson Company
1857 December – 1858 January (Age 46)
1857 December – 1858 January (Age 46)
Start Date Details
Started Circa 1857 December
Appointed
End Date Details
Ended Circa 1858 January
Organization was Ended
Set Apart as Missionary
Hawaiian Mission
1864 March 2 (Age 53)
1864 March 2 (Age 53)
Start Date Details
Set Apart
End Date Details
Start Date Not Found
Released
Additional Information
Marital Status at Start of Position
Plurally Married
Residence When Called
Logan, Cache, Utah Territory, United States
Priesthood Office When Called
Apostle
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Location Served
Sandwich Islands
Mission Qualifier
Proselytizing
Married Mary Ane Marie Larsen
1866 September 15 (Age 55)
Died in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States
1869 September 3 (Age 58)
Date Details
Occurred On 1869 September 3
Died
Media
Ezra Taft Benson (1811 - 1869) Profile
Ezra Taft Benson (1811 - 1869)