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Joseph Smith
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Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Joseph Smith, detail from an oil painting by an unknown artist; in the Community of Christ Temple and Auditorium complex, Independence, Missouri.

Joseph Smith

American religious leader [1805–1844]
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Also known as: Joseph Smith, Jr.
Written by
Richard L. Bushman
Gouverneur Morris Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University. Author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling and others.
Richard L. Bushman
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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Last Updated: • Article History
Quick Facts
Originally:
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Born:
December 23, 1805, Sharon, Vermont, U.S.
Died:
June 27, 1844, Carthage, Illinois (aged 38)
Notable Family Members:
spouse Eliza Roxey Snow Smith
Subjects Of Study:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
On the Web:
Ohio State University - Origins - Joseph Smith Discovers the Gold Plates (Dec. 19, 2024)
See all related content

Joseph Smith (born December 23, 1805, Sharon, Vermont, U.S.—died June 27, 1844, Carthage, Illinois) was an American prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Smith came from an unremarkable New England family. His grandfather, Asael Smith, lost most of his property in Topsfield, Massachusetts, during the economic downturn of the 1780s and eventually moved to Vermont, where Smith’s father, Joseph Smith, Sr., established himself as a farmer. After the birth of Joseph Smith, Jr., a series of crop failures forced the family to move to Palmyra, New York. His mother, Lucy Mack, came from a ...(100 of 1427 words)

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