Ann Eliza Webb, an ex-spouse of this man, penned an exposé about the experience titled “Wife No. 19”
The Final Jeopardy clue for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, appeared in the category “Historic Books” and read: “Ann Eliza Webb, an ex-spouse of this man, penned an exposé about the experience titled ‘Wife No. 19.’” The clue points to a major 19th-century religious leader whose practice of plural marriage became the subject of public controversy, personal testimony, and political debate.
Contents
Who Is Brigham Young?
The correct response is Brigham Young. Ann Eliza Webb Young was one of his wives, and after leaving him, she became a public critic of polygamy and of the system of plural marriage practiced within the 19th-century Latter-day Saint community.
Her book, Wife No. 19, was an exposé that described her experiences in plural marriage and presented a harsh portrait of life as one of Young’s wives. The title itself points directly to the clue, identifying her as a numbered wife and making Brigham Young the man being referenced.
Ann Eliza Webb Young and Her Exposé
Ann Eliza Webb Young became one of the most visible anti-polygamy speakers of her era. After separating from Brigham Young, she toured publicly, lecturing about her marriage and arguing against plural marriage.
Her book Wife No. 19 was published as part memoir, part polemic, and part public appeal. It was written for an audience already deeply interested in Mormonism, Utah, women’s rights, and federal debates over polygamy in the American West.
Brigham Young’s Historical Role
Brigham Young was the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of the most important figures in the history of Mormon settlement in the West. After the death of Joseph Smith, Young led Latter-day Saint migrants to the Salt Lake Valley and became the dominant religious and civic leader in Utah Territory.
His leadership helped establish Salt Lake City and shape the development of Utah. At the same time, his association with plural marriage made him one of the most controversial religious figures in 19th-century America.
Why the Book Became Historically Significant
Wife No. 19 became significant because it gave a first-person account from a woman who had been inside Brigham Young’s household. At a time when polygamy was a major national issue, Ann Eliza Webb Young’s story attracted attention from readers, reformers, and political opponents of the practice.
The book also reflected broader debates over women’s rights, marriage, religious authority, and federal power. It was not only a personal account, but also part of the campaign against plural marriage that eventually led to major legal and political confrontations between the U.S. government and the Latter-day Saint leadership.
Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works
This clue works because it identifies the answer through a historic book rather than through the more familiar facts of Brigham Young’s leadership. The title Wife No. 19 provides the key, while Ann Eliza Webb’s identity as an ex-spouse confirms the connection.
The correct response, Brigham Young, fits every part of the clue. He was the man Ann Eliza Webb Young wrote about, and her exposé remains one of the best-known 19th-century books connected to the public controversy over polygamy in the American West.
