Lilburn W. Boggs

(1796–1860)

Lithograph of Lilburn W. Boggs

Lilburn W. Boggs, lithograph.

Lilburn W. Boggs was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He served in the War of 1812 and then moved to Missouri Territory. In 1817, he married Julia Ann Bent; after her death, he married Panthea Grant Boone in 1823. In 1826 he moved to Independence, Missouri. He was elected to the state senate on the Democratic ticket in 1826 and 1828. In 1832, he was elected lieutenant governor of the state. He became governor when his predecessor, Daniel Dunklin, resigned in 1836; Boggs served through 1840. As governor, he authorized the 1838 expulsion of the Latter-day Saints from Missouri under what was termed his “extermination order” (see Doctrine and Covenants 124, section heading). After serving as governor, he returned to Independence. He was severely wounded by an assassination attempt in May 1842 and accused Joseph Smith of complicity with Orrin Porter Rockwell in perpetrating the crime. He recovered, served in the state senate in 1842–46, and eventually migrated to California, where he died.

References in the Doctrine and Covenants

Doctrine and Covenants 124

Additional Information

Biographical facts and sources, The Joseph Smith Papers

Saints, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth