Congressman Blake Moore Joins the Utah Delegation in Welcoming Martha Hughes Cannon’s Statue to the U.S. Capitol

Congressman Blake Moore Joins the Utah Delegation in Welcoming Martha Hughes Cannon's Statue to the U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON ­- Today, Congressman Blake Moore joined Speaker Mike Johnson and members of the Utah congressional delegation in welcoming Martha Hughes Cannon's statue to the U.S. Capitol. Martha Hughes Cannon was a trailblazer for women as a physician, suffragist, and public health advocate, and she made American history when she joined the Utah State Senate as the first female state senator in 1896.

"Martha Hughes Cannon was a champion for women in Utah and across the country, and this statue honors her legacy as our nation's first female state senator and pioneer for women in medicine, civil rights, and politics, all while being a mother," said Congressman Moore."As the first woman to be elected to the Utah State Senate, Martha spent her career championing health care legislation, expanding access to education, and protecting the rights of women in the workforce. I am thrilled that her statue has finally arrived in Washington so the Capitol Building's many visitors can learn more about Martha and her immense impact on Utah and our nation."

Background:

Martha Hughes Cannon was born in Wales in 1857 and moved with her family to Utah in 1861. She began her career as a typesetter for the Deseret News before attending the University of Deseret (known today as the University of Utah) and earning an undergraduate degree in chemistry. At 23 years old, Martha earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan and graduate medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was the only female in a class of 75 students.

After graduating, Martha returned to Salt Lake City where she opened a private health practice. In 1882, Martha became the head resident physician at Deseret Hospital and established Utah's first nurse training school. She went on to become a notable leader in Utah's suffrage movement, testifying before the United States legislative committee on Utah women's suffrage. Martha was elected to the Utah State Senate in 1896 after defeating her own husband in the race. While in office, Martha established the state's first board of health as well as Utah's first school for the deaf and blind. She proposed several legislative bills that revolutionized Utah's public health care and supported legislation that expanded access to education, protected the rights of women in the workforce, and strengthened Utah's public health infrastructure. The Department of Health building in Salt Lake City is named in Martha's honor. Martha Hughes Cannon is now the 14th woman to be honored in the U.S. Capitol.

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