1200418 Portrait of Joseph Smith (1805-44) the founder of Mormonism (b/w photo). by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805 ??1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism. When he was twenty-four, Smith published the Book of Mormon; and by the time of his death fourteen years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion and religious culture that continues to the present;); Prismatic Pictures ; American, out of copyright.