Albert Carrington
1813–1889 (76 years)
Hometown: Royalton, Vermont
Biography
Albert Carrington was an apostle who was excommunicated in 1885 for adultery—one of very few apostles removed for moral transgression. A native of Vermont, Carrington joined the church in 1841 and became a trusted associate of Brigham Young, serving as his private secretary and clerk.
Carrington was well-educated for his time and served as editor of the Deseret News. He was ordained an apostle in 1870 and served multiple missions, including to England where he presided over the European mission.
His fall from grace came in 1885 when he was accused and confessed to adultery. Despite being a polygamist with two wives, his extramarital affair crossed a line that church leadership would not tolerate. He was excommunicated and never returned to church activity, dying in 1889.
His case remains notable as an example that even high-ranking church leaders faced discipline for moral failures, though critics note the uneven application of such discipline throughout church history.
Served Under
Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:
Wives (4)
Albert Carrington was a polygamist with 4 marriages.
Marriage Age Comparison
4 wives · Ages at marriage
| # | Name | Marriage Date | Her Age | His Age | Age Diff | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhoda Maria Woods | Dec 6, 1838 | 19 | 25 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | Lavinia Ford | Jan 6, 1858 | 19 | 44 | 25 | 4 |
| 3 | Lois Emeline Bigelow | Oct 4, 1867 | 27 | 54 | 27 | 3 |
| 4 | Ellen White | Feb 28, 1873 | 29 | 60 | 31 | 3 |
Children (16)
With Rhoda Maria Woods (6 children)
- Jane Maria Carrington (b. Feb 26, 1840)
- John Daniel Carrington (b. Jan 1, 1842)
- Mary Carrington (b. Jan 1, 1843)
- Isabel Carrington (b. Jan 1, 1843)
- Albert Carrington Jr. (b. Jan 1, 1845)
- Young Brigham Carrington (b. Jan 1, 1847)
With Lavinia Ford (4 children)
With Lois Emeline Bigelow (3 children)
With Ellen White (3 children)
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