The Welsh immigrant who defeated her own husband to become America’s first female senator

The Remarkable Story of Martha Hughes Cannon

In 1896, a Welsh doctor named Martha Hughes Cannon made history when she beat her own husband for a seat in Utah’s state senate. She became America’s first female state senator after running as a Democrat against her Republican husband Angus.

Cannon had already fled to England to avoid jail time for polygamy, earned four degrees by age 25, and worked as a surgeon. During her time in office, she wrote laws that created Utah’s health board and protected working women.

Here’s her remarkable story, plus how you can visit her bronze statue on the East Plaza at Utah’s State Capitol today.

A Welsh Girl Crossed the Ocean to Find a New Home

Martha Hughes was born on July 1, 1857, in Llandudno, Wales to Peter Hughes and Elizabeth Evans. Her parents joined the Mormon church after meeting missionaries in their Welsh town.

The family packed up and moved to Utah Territory where other Mormons lived.

In March 1860, they boarded the ship Underwriter at Liverpool, sailing to New York with hopes for a better life. Little Martha was just two years old when she left her homeland.

Tragedy Struck the Hughes Family on Their Journey West

The Hughes family got stuck in New York for a year because Peter was too sick to travel.

When they finally headed across the plains in 1861, Martha’s little sister Annie caught typhoid fever and died on the trail. After months of slow travel by ox cart, they reached Salt Lake Valley on September 13, 1861.

The family barely settled when Peter Hughes died of consumption three days later. Four-year-old Martha and her mother found themselves alone in a strange land.

Martha’s Mother Built a Home from Scratch

Elizabeth Hughes dug into a hillside to make a kitchen while they slept in their wagon. She soon married James Patten Paul, a carpenter with children of his own.

Their blended family struggled in the harsh frontier life. Young Martha saw neighbors die from diseases that swept through town.

Watching people suffer without proper medical care stuck with her. Martha decided early she wanted to become a doctor and help others.

She Walked Six Miles Each Way to Pay for School

At 16, Martha joined the University of Deseret to study chemistry. She worked as a typesetter for the Woman’s Exponent newspaper to pay for classes.

Martha walked six miles to work and back daily to save money for medical school.

She finished her chemistry degree in 1875 at 18, then worked three more years to save enough to continue her education. Her drive stayed strong despite long hours and tiredness.

Men Tried to Keep Her Out of Medical Classes

Martha started at University of Michigan medical school in 1878 as one of just 40 women among 312 male students. She worked in dorms and later as a secretary to cover costs.

The school forced female students to attend separate anatomy classes away from men. On her 23rd birthday, July 1, 1880, Martha got her medical degree.

She was one of only 14 women in her class to finish the program despite the barriers.

Four Degrees Before Age 25 Made Her a Rarity

After briefly working as a doctor in Algonac, Michigan, Martha moved to Philadelphia for more medical training. She joined the University of Pennsylvania as the only woman among 75 students in her program.

At the same time, she attended the National School of Elocution and Oratory to better her public speaking. By 25, Martha had earned four degrees: chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, and oratory.

This much education made her one of the most learned women in America.

The Government Hunted Her Husband for Having Multiple Wives

Martha returned to Utah and worked as a doctor at the new Deseret Hospital. There she met Angus M. Cannon, who ran the hospital. They married secretly on October 6, 1884, with Martha becoming his fourth wife.

In 1885, she had their daughter Elizabeth Rachel while federal agents looked for men with multiple wives. The Edmunds Act made plural marriage a crime with a $500 fine and five years in jail.

Martha might have to testify against her own husband.

She Lived as "Maria Munn" While Her Husband Sat in Jail

In April 1886, Martha fled to England with her baby using the fake name “Maria Munn. ” She moved between Wales, England, Switzerland, and Michigan to hide from federal agents.

During this time, Angus served jail time for “unlawful living” with his plural wives. Martha wrote letters to him while in hiding, signing with her false name.

After two years on the run, she came back to Salt Lake City in June 1888 when things calmed down.

Susan B. Anthony Welcomed Her to the National Stage

Martha started Utah’s first nurse training school at Deseret Hospital after coming home. When Utah women lost voting rights in 1887, she became a leader in the Utah Women’s Suffrage Association.

Martha went to Chicago in 1893 to speak at the Women’s Congress during the World’s Columbian Exposition. She shared stages with Susan B. Anthony and other famous suffragists, bringing her voice to the national fight for women’s rights.

Newspapers Joked She Was “The Better Man” Than Her Husband

Utah became a state on January 4, 1896, with women’s voting rights in its constitution. Martha ran as a Democrat for one of five state senate seats from Salt Lake County.

In a twist that got national attention, her husband Angus ran as a Republican for the same spots. Local papers couldn’t resist joking about the odd race, with one saying “Mrs. Mattie Hughes Cannon is the better man of the two. ” The husband and wife ran against each other throughout the election.

Voters Chose Martha Over Her Husband by More Than 2,000 Votes

On November 3, 1896, Martha won her senate race with 10,288 votes while Angus got only 8,054. This win made her the first woman ever elected to any state senate in American history.

Martha quickly created Utah’s first board of health and wrote laws to improve cleanliness.

During her four-year term, she focused on public health, better working conditions for women, and education for children with disabilities. Her medical knowledge shaped laws that saved many lives across Utah.

Visiting The Martha Hughes Cannon Statue

The Martha Hughes Cannon statue is in the Utah State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City. This bronze figure honors America’s first female state senator, who won against her own husband in 1896.

The life-size statue shows Martha in her doctor’s coat with medical books, highlighting her role as both physician and politician.

You can walk around the statue and read plaques about her fight for women’s suffrage, medical career, and how she managed these achievements while living in a polygamous marriage. The Capitol is free to visit.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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