The King of Confidence

The mid-1800s United States was full of scoundrels, get-rich-quick schemes, and religious fervor.

James Strang was born into this milieu, was baptized into the Latter Day Saints by Joseph Smith, and claimed to be the Smith’s successor.

He located brass plates, translated them, and published them in his newspaper. He and his followers moved to an isolated island in Lake Michigan, where he was crowned king. In 1856, he was murdered.

The leader of Preparation, Charles Blancher Thompson, also grew up in this environment and joined the Mormons. Thompson followed Strang for a while. Like Strang, Thompson published revelations in… show more.

A fantastic, in-depth look at James Strang, the man who declared himself a “King” on Beaver Island and believed he was the “real” leader of the Mormon faith after Joseph Smith was killed. Strang established a colony on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan and was most likely assassinated, possibly by the U.S. government. I first discovered Strang while doing research about the haunting associated with his print shop on the island. Once I read how bonkers the story was, I had to include his story in my book. Through Harvey’s well-researched book, it was great to sit down with the… show more.