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Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon: Suffragist, Senator, Plural Wife
Martha Hughes Cannon (1857–1932) may best be known as the first female state senator in the United States, elected in Utah in 1896, nearly a quarter century before most women in the country could vote. She was also a suffragist, physician, gifted speaker, plural wife, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and mother of three. This short biography examines what drove Cannon to accomplish so much. Following two periods of self-imposed exile to avoid prosecution for polygamy, and a subsequent career in partisan politics, she died in California, surrounded by her children and grandchildren but virtually forgotten by the larger world. She had much to say during her lifetime and has much to say to us today about persevering in spite of adversity. Constance Lieber chronicles the important story of one of the American West’s and Mormonism’s most intriguing characters.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2022
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May 19, 2025
BOOK REVIEW - Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon, Suffragist, Senator, Plural Wife, by Constance L. Lieber and Cristine S. Seeley (06.28.23)
Signature Books has been publishing a series of biographies on figures who have had a significant impact on LDS culture and scholarship, some well-known and other less so. The volume on Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon is the story of a remarkable individual who attained many firsts for women. She shattered barriers as a physician, suffragist, and the first female state senator in the United States, all while navigating the complexities of being a plural wife in 19th-century Mormon society.
In 1873 in a general conference of the Church Brigham encouraged women to study medicine. Martha began taking night classes at the University of Utah at the age of 16 graduating in 1878. She was then “set apart” for medical studies by Church president John Taylor. Cannon’s achievements are astounding. At a time when most women were denied higher education, she earned multiple degrees, including an MD from the University of Michigan and a degree in pharmacy from the University of Pennsylvania. Her pioneering role in public health laid the groundwork for Utah’s sanitation systems, and she was instrumental in combating epidemics, advocating for preventive care, and promoting the professional training of nurses. The book highlights her scientific rigor and tireless advocacy, making her an inspiring figure well ahead of her time.
She was one of many Utah women vigorously engaged in the suffrage movement. Utah was the first state to adopt universal suffrage. Hughes Cannon and other suffragettes were incensed when Utah became a state in 1896 only to lose their right to vote in national elections. They would not regain sufferage until 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment. One of the most fascinating tensions explored in the book is her political rivalry with her own husband, Angus M. Cannon. In a dramatic twist, both ran for the Utah State Senate in 1896, Martha as a Democrat and Angus as a Republican. She won. The authors note the irony with wry amusement: “In defeating her own husband, Martha Hughes Cannon proved that gender need not limit one’s place in politics—even within one’s own household.” Their political differences created personal strain, with Angus reportedly feeling discomforted by his wife's political ascendancy, a reflection of the era’s gender norms being upended.
The authors do a great job of contextualizing Cannon’s life within both the Latter-day Saint tradition and the national suffrage movement. The book doesn’t shy away from the contradictions of her life—her belief in polygamy while fighting for women's autonomy, or her role as a healer in a time of widespread public health ignorance.
Quotes:
“The story of the struggle for woman suffrage is the story of civilization, reflecting her belief that women’s empowerment was central to human progress”
“I believe in the complete emancipation of woman from the thralldom of old superstitions and foolish customs.”
Signature Books has been publishing a series of biographies on figures who have had a significant impact on LDS culture and scholarship, some well-known and other less so. The volume on Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon is the story of a remarkable individual who attained many firsts for women. She shattered barriers as a physician, suffragist, and the first female state senator in the United States, all while navigating the complexities of being a plural wife in 19th-century Mormon society.
In 1873 in a general conference of the Church Brigham encouraged women to study medicine. Martha began taking night classes at the University of Utah at the age of 16 graduating in 1878. She was then “set apart” for medical studies by Church president John Taylor. Cannon’s achievements are astounding. At a time when most women were denied higher education, she earned multiple degrees, including an MD from the University of Michigan and a degree in pharmacy from the University of Pennsylvania. Her pioneering role in public health laid the groundwork for Utah’s sanitation systems, and she was instrumental in combating epidemics, advocating for preventive care, and promoting the professional training of nurses. The book highlights her scientific rigor and tireless advocacy, making her an inspiring figure well ahead of her time.
She was one of many Utah women vigorously engaged in the suffrage movement. Utah was the first state to adopt universal suffrage. Hughes Cannon and other suffragettes were incensed when Utah became a state in 1896 only to lose their right to vote in national elections. They would not regain sufferage until 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment. One of the most fascinating tensions explored in the book is her political rivalry with her own husband, Angus M. Cannon. In a dramatic twist, both ran for the Utah State Senate in 1896, Martha as a Democrat and Angus as a Republican. She won. The authors note the irony with wry amusement: “In defeating her own husband, Martha Hughes Cannon proved that gender need not limit one’s place in politics—even within one’s own household.” Their political differences created personal strain, with Angus reportedly feeling discomforted by his wife's political ascendancy, a reflection of the era’s gender norms being upended.
The authors do a great job of contextualizing Cannon’s life within both the Latter-day Saint tradition and the national suffrage movement. The book doesn’t shy away from the contradictions of her life—her belief in polygamy while fighting for women's autonomy, or her role as a healer in a time of widespread public health ignorance.
Quotes:
“The story of the struggle for woman suffrage is the story of civilization, reflecting her belief that women’s empowerment was central to human progress”
“I believe in the complete emancipation of woman from the thralldom of old superstitions and foolish customs.”
May 7, 2025
I worked for the state health department (in the building named after her even), so of course I had to read this! A great biography of a complex woman. It stings that she dealt with so many health problems of her own - possibly postpartum depression, menopause, and eventually heart failure. (Conditions we are STILL trying to address)
This is a solid historical biography and I loved that there were footnotes on most pages.
This is a solid historical biography and I loved that there were footnotes on most pages.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews