Portal:Utah/Selected biography/18

Painting of James Duane Doty by George H. Patch
Painting of James Duane Doty by George H. Patch

James Duane Doty (November 5, 1799 – June 13, 1865) was a land speculater and politician in the United States who played a large role in the development of Wisconsin and Utah Territory. He was the 5th governor of Utah Territory.

In 1861 President Abraham Lincoln appointed Doty to the position of Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Utah Territory. Doty was successful in this position, and following the 1863 resignation of Stephen Harding, the Governor of Utah Territory, Lincoln gave Doty the governorship. As governor, Doty sought to repair relations between the federal government and the territory's Mormons, who had greatly disliked many of the previous territorial governors. Doty also promoted the construction of schools and negotiations with local Native American tribes. Doty died in office on June 13, 1865, shortly after the outbreak of Utah's Black Hawk War. He was buried at the Fort Douglas Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.