Author, Publisher, US Diplomat. He was born in his family's home in Cambridge, called Elmwood. He graduated from Harvard in 1838 and received his Law Degree from there a few years later. He married abolitionist Maria White in 1839. The couple, who were active abolitionists, had several children, though only one survived into adulthood. Lowell was a frequent contributor of critical reviews, essays, and poetry to local publications and moved to Philadelphia for a time to edit an anti-slavery newspaper. Returning to Cambridge, he established his own publication, The Pioneer, which ended after only three issues. Lowell had a successful year in 1848, when he published "The Vision of Sir Launfaul," "The Biglow Papers," the satirical "A Fable for Critics," and a collection of poetry. After Maria White's death, he traveled to Europe in preparation for assuming the professorship of modern languages at Harvard, a role left vacant by the newly-retired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - a personal friend. Lowell remained a teacher at Harvard for the next 20 years. In 1857, he married Frances Dunlap and became editor of The Atlantic Monthly. During the Civil War years, Lowell was a co-editor with Charles Eliot Norton of The North American Review and used its pages for his anti-slavery, pro-Union messages. After the war, he was the main presenter at a ceremony dedicated a memorial in Cambridge to fallen Americans. In 1877, he moved to Spain to serve as ambassador after being appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1880, he became ambassador to England, where his second wife died. Lowell returned to the United States in 1885 and moved back to Elmwood, which had remained under his ownership, in 1889. He died there two years later from cancer.
Author, Publisher, US Diplomat. He was born in his family's home in Cambridge, called Elmwood. He graduated from Harvard in 1838 and received his Law Degree from there a few years later. He married abolitionist Maria White in 1839. The couple, who were active abolitionists, had several children, though only one survived into adulthood. Lowell was a frequent contributor of critical reviews, essays, and poetry to local publications and moved to Philadelphia for a time to edit an anti-slavery newspaper. Returning to Cambridge, he established his own publication, The Pioneer, which ended after only three issues. Lowell had a successful year in 1848, when he published "The Vision of Sir Launfaul," "The Biglow Papers," the satirical "A Fable for Critics," and a collection of poetry. After Maria White's death, he traveled to Europe in preparation for assuming the professorship of modern languages at Harvard, a role left vacant by the newly-retired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - a personal friend. Lowell remained a teacher at Harvard for the next 20 years. In 1857, he married Frances Dunlap and became editor of The Atlantic Monthly. During the Civil War years, Lowell was a co-editor with Charles Eliot Norton of The North American Review and used its pages for his anti-slavery, pro-Union messages. After the war, he was the main presenter at a ceremony dedicated a memorial in Cambridge to fallen Americans. In 1877, he moved to Spain to serve as ambassador after being appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1880, he became ambassador to England, where his second wife died. Lowell returned to the United States in 1885 and moved back to Elmwood, which had remained under his ownership, in 1889. He died there two years later from cancer.
Bio by: Midnightdreary
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