John Q. Cannon

Newspaper editor

John Quayle Cannon (April 19, 1857 – January 14, 1931) was an editor in chief of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church). He also served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War. He was the son of LDS Church apostle George Q. Cannon and Elizabeth Hoagland. He was married to Elizabeth "Annie" Wells Cannon. Cannon is one of the few general authorities of the LDS Church to have been excommunicated.

From 1889 until 1892, Cannon was the editor of the Ogden Standard. From October 1892 until April 1898, he was the editor in chief of the Deseret News. After the Spanish–American War he returned to work at the Deseret News and served as an executive editor of the newspaper off and on until his death. He was much beloved by his co workers. Cannon was a member of the Utah Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Cannon was the oldest son of George Q. Cannon and the one most expected to follow in his prominent father's footsteps in politics, church office, and journalism. Heber J. Grant once said of Cannon: "There probably is not a young man in the church who had had more opportunities and advantages extended to him educationally, spiritually, and every other way than John Q. Cannon." On September 5, 1886, Cannon was released from the Presiding Bishopric and excommunicated from the church after he confessed in public at the traditional Sunday meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle that he and Louie Wells had committed adultery. He was excommunicated from the pulpit by his uncle, Salt Lake Stake President Angus M. Cannon. Because Louie Wells was pregnant by Cannon, George Q. Cannon instructed Cannon's wife Annie Wells Cannon to divorce so that he could marry Louie Wells. After the divorce, Cannon and Louie Wells were married by his brother, Abraham H. Cannon. However, after Cannon and Wells were married, he was criminally charged with the crimes of polygamy and unlawful cohabitation, largely based on the earlier rumors that had been promoted by Lippman's article.

During the Spanish–American War, Cannon served as the lieutenant colonel (i. e., second in command) of the 2nd United States Volunteer Cavalry. Cannon was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution.

Cannon died of myocarditis in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.