NETFLIX’s new show American Primeval takes audiences to the edges of the American frontier – featuring plenty of real-life characters.
One of those is Brigham Young, who was a politician and religious figure who commanded the Mormon church in war – here’s what we know about him.
Kim Coates as Brigham Young in American Primeval (left)[/caption]
Young was the president of the Mormon church during the Utah War[/caption]
He did govern over Utah for a period before being replaced by the US President James Buchanan[/caption]
Who was Brigham Young?
Brigham Young (1801-1877) was an American religious leader and the second president of the Mormon church.
Young was a colonizer who has had a significant impact on the American West.
He became attracted to the Book of Mormon and its teachings, and he was baptized into Joseph Smith’s new church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) on April 14, 1832.
Young joined in the march to Missouri to help dispossessed Mormons regain their lands in the spring of 1834.
In the next few years, Young would slowly rise up the ranks of the church, becoming senior leader of the Quorum by 1938.
The Quorum is the smallest number of people who must be present at a meeting in order for decisions to be made in the church.
This means that Young had a great deal of influence in the faith.
When Joseph Smith was murdered, the man who originally led the church, Young defended the Mormons from mob pressure and led them.
He became president of the Mormon church in 1847, and remained in Utah for the rest of his life.
During this time, he held the position of governor, and even though he was replaced by President James Buchanan, he effectively ruled westward out of Illinois in 1846 as Mormon president.
Who plays Brigham Young in American Primeval
Brigham Young is played by the actor Kim Coates, who audiences will know best for his role as Tig on the show Sons of Anarchy, which ran for seven seasons from 2008 to 2014.
Coates commented on his role, saying: ”How did anyone survive in 1850s America?
“I don’t know, because it was such a melting pot.
You had the Mormons, the white men, the Native Americans, the Chinese, just to name a few!
“I mean, honestly, how were people meant to survive?
“Where should they go for their piece of land? What’s going to happen?
“How do they go to sleep at night?
“How anyone survived back then in 1857 in America is beyond me.
“The show does a great job of showcasing this as well.’
“The Mormon religion was really like that back then.
“The white guys and the Native Americans were fighting for land, just to survive.”
Kim Coates is most known for his role in Sons of Anarchy[/caption]
Are there any other characters based on real people in American Primeval?
The show features several characters who are based on real figures from the time.
Jim Bridger, played by Shea Whingham, was a real life pioneer who found himself in the middle of the US government and the Mormon faith.
Bridger built Fort Bridger on the edge of the civilization, which became a vital resupply point for wagon trains.
Wild Bill Hickman, played by Alex Breaux, was a lawman and important figure in the Utah War between Mormon settlers and the US government.
Hickman destroyed several targets during the conflict, including Fort Bridger.
James Wolsey (Joe Tippett) is inspired by a man who “was actually executed for his role in the Meadows Massacre”, as revealed by executive producer Eric Newman.
The Meadows Massacre was a series of attacks during the Utah War that resulted in the mass murder of at least 120 members of the Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train.
Shea Whigham as Jim Bridger, who built Fort Bridger, a vital resupply point for all sides of the Utah War[/caption]
Joe Tippett as James Wolsey, who was a part of the group that massacred emigrants during the Meadows Massacre[/caption]
What is American Primeval about?
Netflix’s American Primeval focuses on the culture, religion, and community that all collide in the clash between Natives and Mormon settlers who want the land for themselves.
It stars Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Kim Coates, Shea Whigham, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, and Shawnee Pourier.
The show is directed by Peter Berg, who is best known for his movies based around real events, such as Deepwater Horizon based on an oil spill, and Patriots Day, based on the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
American Primeval is available to stream on Netflix now.
