Vinson Knight

Vinson Knight (March 14, 1804 – July 31, 1842) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He served as a counselor in the bishopric in Kirtland, Ohio, from 1835 to 1838, then as bishop in Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County, Missouri, from 1838 to 1839, and finally as bishop of the Lower Ward in Nauvoo, Illinois, having been called by Joseph Smith through revelation to that office in January 1841. Knight served as bishop in Nauvoo until his sudden death at age 38. Early years Knight was born March 14, 1804, in Norwich, Massachusetts, to Doctor Randolphus Knight and Rizpah Lee (daughter of American Revolutionary War Captain Sherebiah Lee). Following his father's death when he was five years old, his mother moved the family to upstate New York. Here Knight married Martha McBride, daughter of itinerant pre-Campbellite minister Daniel McBride and Abigail Mead, on July 26, 1826. They ran a farm in Perrysburg, New York and had seven children: five sons and two daughters. Starting in 1833, members of the McBride family began converting to the Latter Day Saint church. Knight was baptized into the church in 1834 in Perrysburg, after having been taught in his home by church founder Joseph Smith.