Matthias F. (Matthias Foss) Cowley

Born in Salt Lake City on August 25, 1858, Matthias Foss Cowley grew up in a Latter-day Saint family and became known as a church leader, missionary, and public speaker. He was ordained an apostle in 1897 and served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until 1905.

Cowley is often remembered both for his leadership and for the controversy surrounding plural marriage in the years after the church's official shift away from the practice. He resigned from the Quorum of the Twelve in 1905, was later disfellowshipped, and was restored to full fellowship in 1936.

He died in Salt Lake City on June 16, 1940. He is also remembered as the father of Matthew Cowley, who later became an apostle as well.