LOWELL. LOWELL. 38/" teacher. In the Charlestown public schools he prepared for college ; entered Harvard and was graduated in the class of 1833. He then studied two years in the divinity school connected with the same university. He was instructor and tutor in Harvard from 1855 to '38, and Hollis professor of mathematics and natural philosophy from 1838 to '88. He was regent from 1S53 to '69. He is now Hollis professor emeritus, residing still in Cambridge. Professor Lovering was married in Bos- ton, February 5, 1844, to Sarah Gray-, daughter of Prince and Sarah (Gray) Hawes. Of this union were four children: James Walker (Harvard), Cora, Eva (now Mrs. Matthew Carey Lea. Philadelphia), and Ernest Lovering (Harvard). Professor Lovering has been president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1S80 ; is a member of the American Association fur the Advancement of Science, and was permanent secretary from 1854 to '7 j, and president in 1873; member of the National Academy of Science, California Academy of Science, American Philosophical Society of Phil- adelphia, and of the buffalo Historical Society. LOWELL, James Russell, son of Rev. Charles Lowell, I ». !>., and Harriet, daughter of Robert T. Spence of Ports- mouth, N. H.. was born in Elmwood, Plymouth county, February 22, 1819. Perhaps no family in the Commonwealth has attained greater distinction in both the republic of letters and beneficent public service. The lirsl American ancestor was Percival Lowell, who came from Bristol, Eng., settling in Newbury, Mass., in 1639. The great grandfather of the poet was Rev. John Lowell, minister of Newbury- port, numbered by historians among the special notabilities of the American pulpit. His grandfather, Hon. John Lowell (Chiel Justice of the court of appeals, and United States district judge) was a port of ability, but is chiefly remembered for philanthropic action as a member of the convention whii h framed the constitution of Massachusetts, as he introduced the clause which effected the abolition of slavery in the State. John Lowell, I.L. i>., uncle of James Russell, w : as a noted writer on politics, theology, economics, agriculture, etc. To Francis Cabot Lowell, brother of John Lowell, is to be attributed the intro- duction of the cotton manufacture into the United States, at Waltham, and the found- ing of the city of Lowell, which was named for him. To his son, John Lowell, Jr., is due the gratitude of a Common- wealth for his founding of the Lowell In- stitute in Boston, where he was born. May 11, 1799. Robert Traill Spence Lowell, brother of the poet, is remembered as hav- ing, with other members of the family, achieved literary celebrity ; but to none of them has come such versatile and vigorous power as to the poet himself — power loyally used for the good of his country, as well as universal man. James Russell Lowell was graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1838. He read law in the law department of Harvard University, was admitted to the bar in 1840, and opened an office in Bos- ton. But love of letters was stronger than ambition for legal rewards. He soon left the profession he had chosen, for the oppor- tunity and leisure of indulging his tastes in realms more congenial. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. His first collection of poems, " A N ear's Life " ( 1841) was severely criticised, though the genius slumbering was noticed by fudge Story, who wrote kindly of it at the time. In January, 1843, he with a co-part- ner issued "The Pioneer, A Literary and ('ritual Magazine," boston This was not a financial success. The years following were spent in giving to the world his inimitable prose sketches,
