Welcome to the website of the Utah Society of the War of 1812. We are just one of 34 states with organized societies that are collectively associated with the General Society of the War of 1812. The Utah Society was organized on the 200th anniversary of the end of the bombardment of Fort Henry that occurred on September 12, 1814.

The Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Utah was founded on September 14, 2014, as an independent state society of the General Society of the War of 1812, with the latter tracing its origins to September 14, 1814, when the Defenders of Baltimore formed what would become the Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Maryland. The General Society, as a confederation of state societies of War of 1812 veterans, dates to January 9, 1854, with a reorganization in 1894.

The General Society is a hereditary society. Our membership is made up of male individuals above the age of fourteen (14) years, who are lineal descendants of those who participated in or served during the War of 1812, in the Army, Navy, Revenue Marine, or privateer service of the United States, or who are collateral descendants, meaning they are related through the son or brother of these veterans, which can be validated by genealogical records. In addition there are civilians who held positions of military authority, such as the President and the Secretary of War, whose male descendants may also join.

Unlike the Revolutionary War, where there are not any known patriots who died in Utah, we have identified 12 veterans of that conflict who lived and died in our state. Among the most notable might be Martin Harris, who, as a private, was a teamster in the Battle of Buffalo. Martin Harris was an early convert to the Latter-day Saints movement who financially guaranteed the first printing of the Book of Mormon and also served as one of Three Witnesses who testified that they had seen the golden plates from which Joseph Smith said the Book of Mormon had been translated.

For information about joining our society, please email our registrar.

We do have a Facebook group.