James E. Talmage (1862-1933) was a geology professor, author, and ecclesiastical leader in Utah.

James Edward Talmage was born Sept. 21, 1862 in Hungerford, England. Talmage received a diploma from the Brigham Young Academy Scientific Department in 1881, and then attended Lehigh University (1882-83), Johns Hopkins University (1883-1884), and Illinois Wesleyan University (1896). He taught at Brigham Young Academy before becoming president of the University of Deseret from 1894 to 1897. He was a professor of geology at the University of Utah from 1897-1907.

On June 14, 1888, Talmage married Merry May Booth, commonly called May. James and May Talmage had eight children together. One of their children, John Talmage, wrote a biography of his father, while Sterling B. Talmage became a geologist.

Talmage was ordained an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1911 and served in that capacity until his death in 1933. He also served as President of the European Mission of the Church from 1924-1928. In addition, he was the author of several books about his religion, including Jesus the Christ, The House of the Lord, The Articles of Faith, and The Great Apostasy. Talmage died in 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah.