Seymour Brunson (September 18, 1798 – August 10, 1840)[1][2] was an early Mormon convert. He is most noted since it was at a speech given at his funeral that Joseph Smith first presented the doctrine of Baptism for the Dead.
Brunson was born in Orwell, Vermont.[2] In 1813, at the age of 14, he enlisted in the United States military as a 16-year-old and served during the War of 1812.[3]
In 1823, Brunson married Harriet Matilda Gould. They eventually had seven children.
Brunson was baptized a member of the Church of Christ in early 1831. He served as a missionary in both Ohio and Virginia and then moved to Daviess County, Missouri just south of Far West. After a year he moved into the town. In April 1838 it was Brunson who brought the charges against Oliver Cowdery that led to Cowdery's excommunication. During that fall Brunson served as a major in the Davies County militia. After this he moved to Quincy, Illinois for a short time and then on to Nauvoo, Illinois.[3]
At Nauvoo, Brunson served as a member of the High Council[4] and as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hancock County Militia. He also served as one of Joseph Smith's bodyguards.[1]