John Milton Bernhisel

Whig Delegate of Utah

Congresses Served

July 23, 1799 (82 years old)

Birthday

September 28, 1881

Death

American physician and politician associated with the Latter Day Saint movement.
Close friend and companion of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
Served as the original delegate of the Utah Territory in the U.S. House of Representatives for multiple terms (1851–59, 1861–63).
Actively involved in the Council of Fifty of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Practiced medicine in New York City before moving to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1843.
Served as personal physician to Joseph Smith and delivered some of Emma Smith’s children.
Accompanied Joseph Smith to Carthage Jail prior to Smith’s death.
Moved to Salt Lake City in 1848 and continued his medical practice.
Represented Latter-day Saints’ interests before Congress during statehood discussions for the State of Deseret.
Described as a small, dapper gentleman with a taciturn demeanor in Congress.
Married Julia Ann Haight at the age of 46 and practiced plural marriage, having multiple wives.
Died in Salt Lake City and is interred at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.