Edward Jackson Lowell

Edward Jackson Lowell. He was an American lawyer, businessman, historian, and philanthropist from the prominent Lowell family of Boston. A graduate of Harvard University, he served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He later had a successful career in law and finance, while also authoring respected historical works and engaging in significant civic and philanthropic activities in Boston and beyond.

Early life and education

Born in Boston to John Amory Lowell and his wife, he was part of a family deeply embedded in the city's commercial and cultural elite, with ties to the Boston Brahmins and the Boston Manufacturing Company. He received his early education at Mr. Dixwell's School in Boston. He entered Harvard University in 1863, but his studies were interrupted by the American Civil War. After the war, he returned to Harvard, graduating in 1867. He subsequently studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing in Boston.

Military service

In 1864, he left Harvard University to enlist in the Union Army. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Fifth Massachusetts Colored Cavalry, a regiment composed of African-American troops led by white officers, which was part of the Union forces in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. His service provided firsthand experience with the challenges faced by United States Colored Troops. He was mustered out in October 1865 after the conclusion of the war, having attained the rank of first lieutenant. This experience informed his later historical writing.

Business career

After his legal training, he transitioned into business and finance, leveraging his family's connections and his own acumen. He became involved with several textile mills and manufacturing concerns, entities central to New England's industrial economy. He served as a director for the Tremont Mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, and was also a director of the Merrimack Manufacturing Company. His business interests extended to banking, where he held a position as a trustee of the Provident Institution for Savings in Boston. This career provided the foundation for his philanthropic pursuits.

Philanthropy and civic engagement

He was a dedicated philanthropist, following the tradition of the Lowell family. He served as a trustee for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a member of the corporation of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University. He was actively involved with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, contributing to its development. His civic engagement included work with the Boston City Hospital and support for various educational and cultural institutions that shaped the landscape of Boston during the Gilded Age.

Personal life and legacy

In 1874, he married Mary Wolcott Goodrich; they had three children, including the noted architect Guy Lowell. He was a member of several prominent social clubs, including the Somerset Club and the Tavern Club in Boston. His legacy is primarily twofold: as a historian, he authored *The Hessians and the Other German Auxiliaries of Great Britain in the Revolutionary War*, a well-regarded study published in 1884, and contributed to Justin Winsor's *Narrative and Critical History of America*. He also left a legacy of civic stewardship through his support of major institutions in Boston and at Harvard University. He died in Boston in 1894.

Category:American historians Category:People from Boston Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Lowell family