Continental Congressman, Jurist. He graduated from Harvard in 1760 and became an attorney in 1762. Lowell was a militia officer and served during the Revolution. He moved to Boston in 1777 and served in the Massachusetts House in 1778 and 1780 to 1782. In 1780 he was a Delegate to the convention that produced the post-colonial state Constitution. He convinced the convention to include in the document the phrase "all men are born free and equal," believing it would result in the abolition of slavery. His position was upheld by the state supreme court in 1783, ending slavery in Massachusetts. Lowell served in the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783 and from 1784 to 1785 was a member of the Massachusetts Senate. In 1784 he was appointed one of the commissioners charged with determining the Massachusetts-New York boundary. Lowell was Judge of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals from 1784 to 1789. In 1789 he was appointed US District Judge, serving until 1801. From 1801 until his death Lowell was Judge of the US Circuit Court. He was a botanist and served as President of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, in addition to being a founder of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was originally buried at the Boston Common Burial Ground, but was moved to Forest Hills in 1895 to allow for construction of the Boylston Street Subway.
Continental Congressman, Jurist. He graduated from Harvard in 1760 and became an attorney in 1762. Lowell was a militia officer and served during the Revolution. He moved to Boston in 1777 and served in the Massachusetts House in 1778 and 1780 to 1782. In 1780 he was a Delegate to the convention that produced the post-colonial state Constitution. He convinced the convention to include in the document the phrase "all men are born free and equal," believing it would result in the abolition of slavery. His position was upheld by the state supreme court in 1783, ending slavery in Massachusetts. Lowell served in the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783 and from 1784 to 1785 was a member of the Massachusetts Senate. In 1784 he was appointed one of the commissioners charged with determining the Massachusetts-New York boundary. Lowell was Judge of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals from 1784 to 1789. In 1789 he was appointed US District Judge, serving until 1801. From 1801 until his death Lowell was Judge of the US Circuit Court. He was a botanist and served as President of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, in addition to being a founder of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was originally buried at the Boston Common Burial Ground, but was moved to Forest Hills in 1895 to allow for construction of the Boylston Street Subway.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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