Orrin Porter Rockwell (Born June 28, 1813 or June 25, 1815 (not sure which is the definitive date), died 1878), Porter Rockwell, or "Old Port" as he was often referred to by his friends, was one of the most colorful figures of the Wild West period of American History. During his lifetime, he was as famous as any of the now more well known figures such as Jessie James, Pat Garrett and the rest, but he has been neglected thus far by Hollywood. There was one little film
He served as a body guard to both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. He was one of the first six official members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (more commonly known as The Mormons.) He was a law man in the Utah territory.
Porter was in a great number of gunfights, exactly how many is hard to say, but it is fair to say that there are only a handful of western figures who come even close to his body count.
Amazingly, he died of old age June 8, 1878 in Salt Lake City.
Richard Lloyd Dewey wrote a biography entitled "Porter Rockwell: a Biography 1986"
He was a very controversial figure. Labelled the "Destroying Angel of Mormondom" during his life, he was also a very loyal friend who would spend days doing a favor for someone he just met.
He summed up the carnage that seemed to follow him around with something that would look good coming out of Clint Eastwood, "I never killed anyone who didn't need killing."
