Mathias Loras

The Right Reverend Mathias Loras
Bishop of Dubuque
See	Dubuque
In office	July 28, 1837 – February 20, 1858
Predecessor	None
Successor	Clement Smyth
Previous post(s)	Vicar general of Mobile (1830–1837) Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1830–1837) 1st President of Spring Hill College (1830–1832)
Orders
Ordination	November 12, 1815 by Joseph Fesch
Consecration	December 10, 1837 by Michael Portier
Personal details
Born	Pierre-Jean-Mathias Loras (1792-08-30)August 30, 1792 Lyon, Kingdom of France
Died	February 19, 1858(1858-02-19) (aged 65) Dubuque, Iowa, U.S.
Buried	St. Raphael's Cathedral
Denomination	Catholic
Motto	O Crux Ave Spes Unica (Hail, oh cross, our only hope)
Signature

Mathias Loras (August 30, 1792 – February 19, 1858) was a French Catholic priest in the United States who served as the first Bishop of Dubuque, in what would become the state of Iowa. He was the first president of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, from 1830 to 1832, and is the founder of what is now known as Loras College in Dubuque.