Alfred Cumming (governor)

For other people with the same name, see Alfred Cumming (disambiguation).

Alfred Cumming
2nd Governor of Utah Territory
In office April 12, 1858 – May 17, 1861
President	James Buchanan
Preceded by	Brigham Young
Succeeded by	John W. Dawson
Mayor of Augusta, Georgia
In office 1836–1837
Preceded by	Samuel Hale
Succeeded by	John Phinizy
Personal details
Born	(1802-09-04)September 4, 1802 Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	October 9, 1873(1873-10-09) (aged 71)
Resting place	Summerville Cemetery, Augusta, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Elizabeth Randall Cumming

Alfred Cumming (September 4, 1802 – October 9, 1873) was an American politician who served as the governor of the Utah Territory from April 12, 1858, to May 17, 1861. Cumming succeeded Brigham Young as governor following the Utah War.

Career

Cumming served as mayor of Augusta, Georgia from 1836 to 1837. While he was mayor, he worked to curb a yellow fever epidemic in the city. His father, Thomas Cumming, had previously held the mayoral position as “intendent” in 1798.

During the Mexican-American War, Cumming worked as a sutler to Zachary Taylor’s army and at Jefferson Barracks.

Cumming was appointed superintendent of the Central Superintendency under the Superintendency System on April 23, 1853. In 1855, he participated in negotiating the Judith River Treaty with the Blackfeet nation, which established the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

A Democrat, Cumming was appointed as the second governor of the Utah Territory by President James Buchanan. On July 13, 1857, he received this commission and set out that same September with an attachment of soldiers led by Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston as part of the Utah Expedition. At the time, Brigham Young, leader of the Church of Latter-day Saints, was acting as interim governor of the Utah Territory. Young did not wish to give up his position and feared that the approaching army was coming to attack. He therefore declared martial law and sent Utah militias to delay the Expedition. Johnston stationed his army at Camp Scott near Fort Bridger, which was destroyed by the militias to slow their approach. Buchanan offered a deal that would pardon all Utahns for their “seditions and treasons” if they let the army into Salt Lake City and welcomed Cumming as governor. Coupled with negotiations from Thomas L. Kane, Young allowed the new governor and his entourage into the city on June 26, 1858. Cumming’s governorship was met with apprehension within the territory as he was a non-Mormon and was replacing the popular Brigham Young. He served as governor until 1861.

Personal life

Cumming was born in Augusta, Georgia. His wife, Elizabeth Randall Cumming, accompanied him on the Utah Expedition and wrote frequently about the experience. After arriving in Utah, she helped her husband with his official duties and wrote about Utah and its people. She died in 1867. Alfred Cumming was the brother of Henry Harford Cumming and the uncle of Alfred Cumming. After his time as governor in the Utah Territory, he travelled to Washington D.C. where he was waylaid until 1864 due to the Civil War. He then returned to the Cumming’s family home in Augusta. He died on October 9, 1873 at the age of 71.