Alexander William Doniphan

Alexander Doniphan
Alexander William Doniphan (Mathew Brady's studio) (Library of Congress collection)
Born	(1808-07-09)July 9, 1808 Mason County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	August 8, 1887(1887-08-08) (aged 79) Richmond, Missouri, U.S.
Resting place	Fairview Cemetery Liberty, Missouri, U.S. 39°14′34″N 94°25′26″W / 39.2428°N 94.4239°W / 39.2428; -94.4239
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Augusta College
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, soldier
Known for	Sparing Joseph Smith's life Author Kearny code
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Title	Colonel
Spouse	Elizabeth Jane Thornton ​ ​ (m. 1838⁠–⁠1873)​ (her death)
Children	John Thornton Alexander William Jr.
Parent(s)	Joseph and Anne Fowke (née Smith) Doniphan
Military career
Nickname(s)	"The American Xenophon"[1]
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1836–1848
Rank	Colonel
Unit	1st Missouri Mounted Volunteers
Battles/wars	Heatherly War 1838 Mormon War Mexican–American War Capture of Santa Fe Battle of El Brazito Battle of the Sacramento River
Signature

Alexander William Doniphan (July 9, 1808 – August 8, 1887^[2]) was a 19th-century American attorney, soldier and politician from Missouri who is best known today as the man who prevented the summary execution of Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at the close of the 1838 Mormon War in that state. He also achieved renown as a leader of American troops during the Mexican–American War, as the author of a legal code that still forms the basis of New Mexico's Bill of Rights, and as a successful defense attorney in the Missouri towns of Liberty, Richmond and Independence.