Augustus Lowell
Encyclopedia
Augustus Lowell was a businessman and philanthropist from Massachusetts
. He was born in Boston
to John Amory Lowell
and his second wife Elizabeth Cabot Putnam. His great-grandfather, John Lowell
, was among the first Judges for the newly created federal courts, appointed by Presidents George Washington
and John Adams
. Augustus' elder brother, Judge John Lowell, would be appointed to hold the same seats held by their great-grandfather, by Presidents Abraham Lincoln
and Rutherford Hayes.
, class of 1850. On June 1, 1854 he married Katherine Bigelow Lawrence, the daughter of Hon. Abbott Lawrence
. Both Augustus and Katherine Lawrence Lowell were able to trace their ancestry back through the earliest colonial settlers and founders of New England, in the mid 17th century, and even further back to notable English families of the 12th and 13th centuries.
Augustus and Katherine Lowell had seven children and thus named their 10 acres (40,468.6 m²), Brookline, Massachusetts
estate, Sevenels. The Lowells lost two of their children during infancy but their surviving children went on to great public prominence. Eldest son Percival Lowell
wrote several books on the Far East and on the planet Mars, and founded the Lowell Observatory
in Flagstaff, Arizona
. Their second son, Abbott Lawrence Lowell
, succeeded Augustus as Trustee at the Lowell Institute
in 1900, and became President of Harvard College in 1909, serving in that capacity until 1933. One of their daughters, Katharine Lowell, married (1) James Alfred Roosevelt, of the Long Island clan, and (2) T. James Bowlker, a Boston cotton mill owner. And their youngest daughter, Amy Lowell
, 20 years younger than her brothers, would become the second celebrated poet in the Lowell family (Greenslet 1946).
, for much of his early career. In 1875, he became Treasurer of The Boott Cotton Mill, also in Lowell. And in 1883, he was Director of The Winnipiseogee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company. All were positions his father, John Amory, had once held within the same companies. He was also, as of 1878, a director of the Pacific Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts
, the largest textile combine of its time.
Lowell was also a member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and Vice President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
. In 1881, Augustus was appointed as the sole Trustee of the Lowell Institute, upon his fathers death (Lowell 1899, pp 118–119), a position he would hold for the last 20 years of his life.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to John Amory Lowell
John Amory Lowell
Hon. John Amory Lowell was an American businessman and philanthropist from Boston. He became the sole trustee of the Lowell Institute when his first cousin, John Lowell, Jr. , the Institute's endower, died...
and his second wife Elizabeth Cabot Putnam. His great-grandfather, John Lowell
John Lowell
John A. Lowell was an American lawyer, selectman, jurist, delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and federal judge....
, was among the first Judges for the newly created federal courts, appointed by Presidents George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
. Augustus' elder brother, Judge John Lowell, would be appointed to hold the same seats held by their great-grandfather, by Presidents Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and Rutherford Hayes.
Family
Lowell was amongst the fifth generation in his family to graduate from Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, class of 1850. On June 1, 1854 he married Katherine Bigelow Lawrence, the daughter of Hon. Abbott Lawrence
Abbott Lawrence
Abbott Lawrence was a prominent American businessman, politician, and philanthropist...
. Both Augustus and Katherine Lawrence Lowell were able to trace their ancestry back through the earliest colonial settlers and founders of New England, in the mid 17th century, and even further back to notable English families of the 12th and 13th centuries.
Augustus and Katherine Lowell had seven children and thus named their 10 acres (40,468.6 m²), Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
estate, Sevenels. The Lowells lost two of their children during infancy but their surviving children went on to great public prominence. Eldest son Percival Lowell
Percival Lowell
Percival Lawrence Lowell was a businessman, author, mathematician, and astronomer who fueled speculation that there were canals on Mars, founded the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, and formed the beginning of the effort that led to the discovery of Pluto 14 years after his death...
wrote several books on the Far East and on the planet Mars, and founded the Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
. Their second son, Abbott Lawrence Lowell
Abbott Lawrence Lowell
Abbott Lawrence Lowell was a U.S. educator and legal scholar. He served as President of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933....
, succeeded Augustus as Trustee at the Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
in 1900, and became President of Harvard College in 1909, serving in that capacity until 1933. One of their daughters, Katharine Lowell, married (1) James Alfred Roosevelt, of the Long Island clan, and (2) T. James Bowlker, a Boston cotton mill owner. And their youngest daughter, Amy Lowell
Amy Lowell
Amy Lawrence Lowell was an American poet of the imagist school from Brookline, Massachusetts who posthumously won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1926.- Personal life:...
, 20 years younger than her brothers, would become the second celebrated poet in the Lowell family (Greenslet 1946).
Career
Augustus was Treasurer of the Merrimack Manufacturing Company, a textile mill in Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, for much of his early career. In 1875, he became Treasurer of The Boott Cotton Mill, also in Lowell. And in 1883, he was Director of The Winnipiseogee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company. All were positions his father, John Amory, had once held within the same companies. He was also, as of 1878, a director of the Pacific Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
, the largest textile combine of its time.
Lowell was also a member of the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and Vice President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
. In 1881, Augustus was appointed as the sole Trustee of the Lowell Institute, upon his fathers death (Lowell 1899, pp 118–119), a position he would hold for the last 20 years of his life.
See also
- Lowell familyLowell familyThe Lowell family settled on the North Shore at Cape Ann after they arrived in Boston on June 23, 1639. The patriarch, Percival Lowle , described as a "solid citizen of Bristol", determined at the age of 68 that the future was in the New World.Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop needed...
- First Families of Boston
- Lowell InstituteLowell InstituteThe Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
- Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, MassachusettsLowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...