US Senator. He served as a Democratic delegate for the Utah Territory from 1893 to 1895 and after statehood, he served as the United States Senator from 1897 to 1903. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election. He is credited with authoring the Enabling Act of Utah in 1894. The United States Congress passed the Utah Enabling Act, authorizing the admittance of Utah into the Union, pending compliance with certain congressional mandates, including the banning of polygamy. Utah became the 45th state in the Union in 1896. Born the only son of three children of Joseph Sharp and Mary Frost Rawlins, who were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington but did not graduate. He was a professor of mathematics, Greek and Latin at the University of Deseret in Salt Lake City from 1873 to 1875. After studying law under other lawyers, he was admitted to the bar in 1875, and he commenced practice in Salt Lake City. Following leaving college, he left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when his father began to practice plural marriages. After leaving the Senate, he continued to practice law in Salt Lake City with his partners until 1921. On December 8, 1876, he married Julia Davis, a Welsh lady, and the couple had seven children.
US Senator. He served as a Democratic delegate for the Utah Territory from 1893 to 1895 and after statehood, he served as the United States Senator from 1897 to 1903. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election. He is credited with authoring the Enabling Act of Utah in 1894. The United States Congress passed the Utah Enabling Act, authorizing the admittance of Utah into the Union, pending compliance with certain congressional mandates, including the banning of polygamy. Utah became the 45th state in the Union in 1896. Born the only son of three children of Joseph Sharp and Mary Frost Rawlins, who were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington but did not graduate. He was a professor of mathematics, Greek and Latin at the University of Deseret in Salt Lake City from 1873 to 1875. After studying law under other lawyers, he was admitted to the bar in 1875, and he commenced practice in Salt Lake City. Following leaving college, he left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when his father began to practice plural marriages. After leaving the Senate, he continued to practice law in Salt Lake City with his partners until 1921. On December 8, 1876, he married Julia Davis, a Welsh lady, and the couple had seven children.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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Delegate to Congress 1893-1895
Author of Enabling Act of Utah
United States Senator 1897-1903
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