JamesRussellLowell

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JamesRussellLowell(/lol/February22,1819August
12,1891)wasanAmericanRomanticpoet,critic,editor,and JamesRussellLowell
diplomat.HeisassociatedwiththeFiresidePoets,agroupof
NewEnglandwriterswhowereamongthefirstAmerican
poetswhorivaledthepopularityofBritishpoets.These
writersusuallyusedconventionalformsandmetersintheir
poetry,makingthemsuitableforfamiliesentertainingattheir
fireside.

LowellgraduatedfromHarvardCollegein1838,despitehis
reputationasatroublemaker,andwentontoearnalaw
degreefromHarvardLawSchool.Hepublishedhisfirst
collectionofpoetryin1841andmarriedMariaWhitein
1844.Thecouplehadseveralchildren,thoughonlyone
survivedpastchildhood.Theysoonbecameinvolvedinthe
movementtoabolishslavery,withLowellusingpoetryto
expresshisantislaveryviewsandtakingajobin
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,astheeditorofanabolitionist JamesRussellLowell,c.1855
newspaper.AftermovingbacktoCambridge,Lowellwas
oneofthefoundersofajournalcalledThePioneer,which Born February22,1819
lastedonlythreeissues.Hegainednotorietyin1848withthe Cambridge,Massachusetts,
publicationofAFableforCritics,abooklengthpoem UnitedStates
satirizingcontemporarycriticsandpoets.Thesameyear,he Died August12,1891(aged72)
publishedTheBiglowPapers,whichincreasedhisfame.He Cambridge,Massachusetts,
wentontopublishseveralotherpoetrycollectionsandessay UnitedStates
collectionsthroughouthisliterarycareer. Almamater HarvardUniversity
Literary Romanticism
Mariadiedin1853,andLowellacceptedaprofessorshipof movement
languagesatHarvardin1854hecontinuedtoteachtherefor
twentyyears.HetraveledtoEuropebeforeofficially
assuminghisteachingdutiesin1856,andhemarriedFrances Signature
Dunlapshortlythereafterin1857.Thatyear,Lowellalso
becameeditorofTheAtlanticMonthly.Itwasnotuntil20
yearslaterthathereceivedhisfirstpoliticalappointment,the
ambassadorshiptotheKingdomofSpain.Hewaslater
appointedambassadortotheCourtofSt.James's.Hespent
hislastyearsinCambridgeinthesameestatewherehewasborn,anddiedtherein1891.

Lowellbelievedthatthepoetplayedanimportantroleasaprophetandcriticofsociety.Heusedpoetryfor
reform,particularlyinabolitionism.However,hiscommitmenttotheantislaverycausewaveredoverthe
years,asdidhisopiniononAfricanAmericans.HeattemptedtoemulatethetrueYankeeaccentinthedialogue
ofhischaracters,particularlyinTheBiglowPapers.Thisdepictionofthedialect,aswellashismanysatires,
wasaninspirationtowriterssuchasMarkTwainandH.L.Mencken.

Contents
1 Biography
1.1 Earlylife
 1.2 Marriageandfamily
1.3 Literarycareer
1.4 FirsttriptoEurope
1.5 Professorshipandsecondmarriage
1.6 Waryearsandbeyond
1.7 Politicalappointments
1.8 Lateryearsanddeath
1.9 Writingstyleandliterarytheory
2 Beliefs
3 Criticismandlegacy
4 Listofselectedworks
5 Seealso
6 Notes
7 Sources
8 Furtherreading
9 Externallinks

Biography
Earlylife

JamesRussellLowellwasbornFebruary22,1819.[1]Hewasamember
oftheeighthgenerationoftheLowellfamily,[2]thedescendantsof
PercivalLowlewhosettledinNewbury,Massachusetts,in1639.[3]His
parentsweretheReverendCharlesRussellLowell,Sr.(17821861),a
ministerataUnitarianchurchinBostonwhohadpreviouslystudied
theologyatEdinburgh,andHarriettBrackettSpenceLowell.[4]Bythe
timethatJamesRussellLowellwasborn,thefamilyownedalarge
estateinCambridgecalledElmwood.[5]Hewastheyoungestofsix
childrenhissiblingswereCharles,Rebecca,Mary,William,and
Elmwood,birthplaceandlongtime
Robert.[6]Lowell'smotherbuiltinhimanappreciationforliteratureat homeofJamesRussellLowellin
anearlyage,especiallyinpoetry,ballads,andtalesfromhernative Cambridge,Massachusetts
Orkney.[4]HeattendedschoolunderSophiaDana,wholatermarried
GeorgeRipleyhelaterstudiedataschoolrunbyaparticularlyharsh
disciplinarian,whereoneofhisclassmateswasRichardHenryDana,Jr.[7]

LowellattendedHarvardCollegebeginningatage15in1834,thoughhewasnotagoodstudentandoftengot
intotrouble.[8]Inhissophomoreyear,hewasabsentfromrequiredchapelattendance14timesandfromclasses
56times.[9]Inhislastyearthere,hewrote,"DuringFreshmanyear,Ididnothing,duringSophomoreyearIdid
nothing,duringJunioryearIdidnothing,andduringSenioryearIhavethusfardonenothinginthewayof
collegestudies."[8]Inhissenioryear,hebecameoneoftheeditorsofHarvardianaliterarymagazine,towhich
hecontributedproseandpoetrythatheadmittedwasoflowquality.Ashesaidlater,"Iwasasgreatanassas
everbrayed&thoughtitsinging."[10]Duringhisundergraduateyears,LowellwasamemberofHastyPudding
andservedbothasSecretaryandPoet.

Lowellwaselectedthepoetoftheclassof1838[11]and,aswastradition,wasaskedtoreciteanoriginalpoem
onClassDay,thedaybeforeCommencementonJuly17,1838.[9]Hewassuspended,however,andnotallowed
toparticipate.Instead,hispoemwasprintedandmadeavailablethankstosubscriptionspaidbyhis
classmates.[11]HehadcomposedthepoeminConcord,Massachusetts,[12]wherehehadbeenexiledbythe
HarvardfacultytothecareoftheRev.BarzallaiFrostbecauseofhisneglectofhisstudies.[13]Duringhisstay
inConcord,hebecamefriendswithRalphWaldoEmersonandgottoknowtheotherTranscendentalists.His
ClassDaypoemsatirizedthesocialmovementsofthedayabolitionists,ThomasCarlyle,Emerson,andthe
Transcendentalistsweretreated.[12]

Lowelldidnotknowwhatvocationtochooseaftergraduating,andhevacillatedamongbusiness,theministry,
medicine,andlaw.HeultimatelyenrolledatHarvardLawSchoolin1840andwasadmittedtothebartwo
yearslater.[14]Whilestudyinglaw,however,hecontributedpoemsandprosearticlestovariousmagazines.
Duringthistime,hewasadmittedlydepressedandoftenhadsuicidalthoughts.Heonceconfidedtoafriend
thatheheldacockedpistoltohisforeheadandconsideredkillinghimselfattheageof20.[15]

Marriageandfamily

Inlate1839,LowellmetMariaWhitethroughherbrotherWilliam,aclassmateatHarvard,[16]andthetwo
becameengagedintheautumnof1840.Maria'sfatherAbijahWhite,awealthymerchantfromWatertown,
insistedthattheirweddingbepostponeduntilLowellhadgainfulemployment.[17]Theywerefinallymarriedon
December26,1844,[18]shortlyafterthegroompublishedConversationsontheOldPoets,acollectionofhis
previouslypublishedessays.[19]Afrienddescribedtheirrelationshipas"theverypictureofaTrue
Marriage".[20]Lowellhimselfbelievedthatshewasmadeup"halfofearthandmorethanhalfofHeaven".[17]
She,too,wrotepoetry,andthenexttwelveyearsofLowell'slifeweredeeplyaffectedbyherinfluence.Hesaid
thathisfirstbookofpoetryAYear'sLife(1841)"owesallitsbeautytoher",thoughitonlysold300copies.[17]

Maria'scharacterandbeliefsledhertobecomeinvolvedinthemovementsdirectedagainstintemperanceand
slavery.ShewasamemberoftheBostonFemaleAntiSlaverySocietyandpersuadedherhusbandtobecome
anabolitionist.[21]Jameshadpreviouslyexpressedantislaverysentiments,butMariaurgedhimtowardsmore
activeexpressionandinvolvement.[22]HissecondvolumeofpoemsMiscellaneousPoemsexpressedthese
antislaverythoughts,andits1,500copiessoldwell.[23]

Mariawasinpoorhealth,andthecouplemovedtoPhiladelphiashortlyaftertheirmarriage,thinkingthather
lungscouldhealthere.[24]InPhiladelphia,hebecameacontributingeditorforthePennsylvaniaFreeman,an
abolitionistnewspaper.[25]Inthespringof1845,theLowellsreturnedtoCambridge,Massachusetts,tomake
theirhomeatElmwood.Theyhadfourchildren,thoughonlyone(Mabel,born1847)survivedpastinfancy.
BlanchewasbornDecember31,1845,butlivedonlyfifteenmonthsRose,bornin1849,survivedonlyafew
monthsaswelltheironlysonWalterwasbornin1850butdiedin1852.[26]Lowellwasveryaffectedbythe
lossofalmostallofhischildren.Hisgriefoverthedeathofhisfirstdaughterinparticularwasexpressedinhis
poem"TheFirstSnowfall"(1847).[27]Heagainconsideredsuicide,writingtoafriendthathethought"ofmy
razorsandmythroatandthatIamafoolandacowardnottoenditallatonce".[26]

Literarycareer

Lowell'searliestpoemswerepublishedwithoutremunerationintheSouthernLiteraryMessengerin1840.[28]
HewasinspiredtoneweffortstowardsselfsupportandjoinedwithhisfriendRobertCarterinfoundingthe
literaryjournalThePioneer.[20]Theperiodicalwasdistinguishedbythefactthatmostofitscontentwasnew
ratherthanmaterialthathadbeenpreviouslypublishedelsewhere,andbytheinclusionofveryserious
criticism,whichcoverednotonlyliteraturebutalsoartandmusic.[29]Lowellwrotethatitwould"furnishthe
intelligentandreflectingportionoftheReadingPublicwitharationalsubstitutefortheenormousquantityof
thricedilutedtrash,intheshapeofnambypambylovetalesandsketches,whichismonthlypouredouttothem
bymanyofourpopularMagazines."[20]WilliamWetmoreStorynotedthejournal'shighertaste,writingthat"it
tooksomestand&appealledtoahigherintellectualStandardthanourpuerilemilkorwaterynambypamby
Magswithwhichweareoverrun".[30]Thefirstissueofthejournalincludedthefirstappearanceof"TheTell
TaleHeart"byEdgarAllanPoe.[31]LowellwastreatedforaneyediseaseinNewYorkshortlyafterthefirst
issue,andinhisabsenceCarterdidapoorjobofmanagingthejournal.[23]Themagazineceasedpublication
afterthreemonthlynumbersbeginninginJanuary1843,leavingLowell$1,800indebt.[31]Poemournedthe
journal'sdemise,callingit"amostsevereblowtothecausethecauseofaPureTaste".[30]

DespitethefailureofThePioneer,Lowellcontinuedhisinterestintheliteraryworld.Hewroteaserieson
"AntiSlaveryintheUnitedStates"fortheLondonDailyNews,thoughhisserieswasdiscontinuedbythe
editorsafterfourarticlesinMay1846.[32]Hehadpublishedthesearticlesanonymously,believingthatthey
wouldhavemoreimpactiftheywerenotknowntobetheworkofacommittedabolitionist.[33]Inthespringof
1848,heformedaconnectionwiththeNationalAntiSlaveryStandardofNewYork,agreeingtocontribute
weeklyeitherapoemoraprosearticle.Afteronlyoneyear,hewasaskedtocontributehalfasoftentothe
StandardtomakeroomforcontributionsfromEdmundQuincy,anotherwriterandreformer.[34]

AFableforCriticswasoneofLowell'smostpopularworks,published
anonymouslyin1848.Itprovedapopularsatire,andthefirst3,000
copiessoldoutquickly.[35]Init,hetookgoodnaturedjabsathis
contemporarypoetsandcriticsbutnotallthesubjectswerepleased.
EdgarAllanPoewasreferredtoaspartgeniusand"twofifthssheer
fudge"hereviewedtheworkintheSouthernLiteraryMessengerand
calledit"'loose'illconceivedandfeeblyexecuted,aswellindetailas
ingeneralweconfesssomesurpriseathisputtingforthsounpolished
aperformance."[36]LowellofferedhisNewYorkfriendCharles
FrederickBriggsalltheprofitsfromthebook'ssuccess(whichproved
relativelysmall),despitehisownfinancialneeds.[35]

In1848,LowellalsopublishedTheBiglowPapers,laternamedbythe
GrolierClubasthemostinfluentialbookof1848.[37]Thefirst1,500
copiessoldoutwithinaweekandasecondeditionwassoonissued
thoughLowellmadenoprofit,ashehadtoabsorbthecostof
stereotypingthebookhimself.[38]Thebookpresentedthreemain
DaguerreotypeofJamesRussell
characters,eachrepresentingdifferentaspectsofAmericanlifeand
Lowell,takeninPhiladelphia,1844
usingauthenticAmericandialectsintheirdialogue.[39]Underthe
surface,TheBiglowPaperswasalsoadenunciationoftheMexican
AmericanWarandwaringeneral.[24]

FirsttriptoEurope

In1850,Lowell'smotherdiedunexpectedly,asdidhisthirddaughter,Rose.HerdeathleftLowelldepressed
andreclusiveforsixmonths,despitethebirthofhissonWalterbytheendoftheyear.Hewrotetoafriendthat
death"isaprivatetutor.Wehavenofellowscholars,andmustlayourlessonstoheartalone."[40]These
personaltroublesaswellastheCompromiseof1850inspiredLowelltoacceptanofferfromWilliamWetmore
StorytospendawinterinItaly.[41]Topayforthetrip,LowellsoldlandaroundElmwood,intendingtoselloff
furtheracresoftheestateovertimetosupplementhisincome,ultimatelysellingoff25oftheoriginal30acres
(120,000m2).[42]WalterdiedsuddenlyinRomeofcholera,andLowellandhiswife,withtheirdaughterMabel,
returnedtotheUnitedStatesinOctober1852.[43]Lowellpublishedrecollectionsofhisjourneyinseveral
magazines,manyofwhichwouldbecollectedyearslaterasFiresideTravels(1867).Healsoeditedvolumes
withbiographicalsketchesforaseriesonBritishPoets.[44]

HiswifeMaria,whohadbeensufferingfrompoorhealthformanyyears,becameveryillinthespringof1853
anddiedonOctober27[45]oftuberculosis.[26]Justbeforeherburial,hercoffinwasopenedsothatherdaughter
MabelcouldseeherfacewhileLowell"leanedforalongwhileagainstatreeweeping",accordingtoHenry
WadsworthLongfellowandhiswife,whowereinattendance.[46]In1855,Lowelloversawthepublicationofa
memorialvolumeofhiswife'spoetry,withonlyfiftycopiesforprivatecirculation.[44]Despitehisself
described"naturallyjoyous"nature,[47]lifeforLowellatElmwoodwasfurthercomplicatedbyhisfather
becomingdeafinhisoldage,andthedeterioratingmentalstateofhissisterRebecca,whosometimeswenta
weekwithoutspeaking.[48]Heagaincuthimselfofffromothers,becomingreclusiveatElmwood,andhis
privatediariesfromthistimeperiodareriddledwiththeinitialsofhiswife.[49]OnMarch10,1854,for
example,hewrote:"Darkwithout&within.M.L.M.L.M.L."[50]Longfellow,afriendandneighbor,referredto
Lowellas"lonelyanddesolate".[51]

Professorshipandsecondmarriage

AttheinvitationofhiscousinJohnAmoryLowell,JamesRussellLowellwasaskedtodeliveralectureatthe
prestigiousLowellInstitute.[52]Somespeculatedtheopportunitywasbecauseofthefamilyconnection,offered
asanattempttobringhimoutofhisdepression.[53]Lowellchosetospeakon"TheEnglishPoets",tellinghis
friendBriggsthathewouldtakerevengeondeadpoets"fortheinjuriesreceivedbyonewhomthepublicwon't
allowamongtheliving".[52]ThefirstofthetwelvepartlectureserieswastobeonJanuary9,1855,thoughby
December,Lowellhadonlycompletedwritingfiveofthem,hopingforlastminuteinspiration.[54]Hisfirst
lecturewasonJohnMiltonandtheauditoriumwasoversoldLowellhadtogivearepeatperformancethenext
afternoon.[55]Lowell,whohadneverspokeninpublicbefore,waspraisedfortheselectures.FrancisJames
ChildsaidthatLowell,whomhedeemedwastypically"perverse",wasableto"persistinbeingserious
contrarytohisimpulsesandhistalents".[54]Whilehisserieswasstillinprogress,LowellwasofferedtheSmith
ProfessorshipofModernLanguagesatHarvard,apostvacatedbyLongfellow,atanannualsalaryof$1,200,
thoughheneverappliedforit.[56]ThejobdescriptionwaschangingafterLongfellowinsteadofteaching
languagesdirectly,Lowellwouldsupervisethedepartmentanddelivertwolecturecoursesperyearontopicsof
hisownchoosing.[57]Lowellacceptedtheappointment,withtheprovisothatheshouldhaveayearofstudy
abroad.HesetsailonJune4ofthatyear,[58]leavinghisdaughterMabelinthecareofagovernessnamed
FrancesDunlap.[56]Abroad,hevisitedLeHavre,Paris,andLondon,spendingtimewithfriendsincluding
Story,RobertBrowningandElizabethBarrettBrowning,andLeighHunt.Primarily,however,Lowellspenthis
timeabroadstudyinglanguages,particularlyGerman,whichhefounddifficult.Hecomplained:"The
confoundinggenders!IfIdieIshallhaveengravedonmytombstonethatIdiedofder,die,das,notbecauseI
caughtthembutbecauseIcouldn't."[58]

HereturnedtotheUnitedStatesinthesummerof1856andbeganhiscollegeduties.[59]Towardstheendofhis
professorship,thenpresidentofHarvardCharlesWilliamEliotnotedthatLowellseemedtohave"nonatural
inclination"toteachLowellagreed,butretainedhispositionfortwentyyears.[60]Hefocusedonteaching
literature,ratherthanetymology,hopingthathisstudentswouldlearntoenjoythesound,rhythm,andflowof
poetryratherthanthetechniqueofwords.[61]Hesummeduphismethod:"Truescholarshipconsistsinknowing
notwhatthingsexists,butwhattheymeanitisnotmemorybutjudgment."[62]Stillgrievingthelossofhis
wife,duringthistimeLowellavoidedElmwoodandinsteadlivedonKirklandStreetinCambridge,anarea
knownasProfessors'Row.Hestayedthere,alongwithhisdaughterMabelandhergovernessFrancesDunlap,
untilJanuary1861.[63]

LowellhadintendednevertoremarryafterthedeathofhiswifeMariaWhite.However,in1857,surprisinghis
friends,hebecameengagedtoFrancesDunlap,whomanydescribedassimpleandunattractive.[64]Dunlap,
nieceoftheformergovernorofMaineRobertP.Dunlap,[65]wasafriendofLowell'sfirstwifeandformerly
wealthy,thoughsheandherfamilyhadfallenintoreducedcircumstances.[56]LowellandDunlapmarriedon
September16,1857,inaceremonyperformedbyhisbrother.[66]Lowellwrote,"Mysecondmarriagewasthe
wisestactofmylife,&aslongasIamsureofit,Icanaffordtowaittillmyfriendsagreewithme."[59]

Waryearsandbeyond
Intheautumnof1857,TheAtlanticMonthlywasestablished,and
Lowellwasitsfirsteditor.WithitsfirstissueinNovemberofthatyear,
heatoncegavethemagazinethestampofhighliteratureandofbold
speechonpublicaffairs.[67]InJanuary1861,Lowell'sfatherdiedofa
heartattack,inspiringLowelltomovehisfamilybacktoElmwood.As
hewrotetohisfriendBriggs,"IambackagaintotheplaceIlovebest.I
amsittinginmyoldgarret,atmyolddesk,smokingmyoldpipe...I
begintofeelmorelikemyoldselfthanIhavethesetenyears."[68]
Shortlythereafter,inMay,heleftTheAtlanticMonthlywhenJames
ThomasFieldstookoveraseditorthemagazinehadbeenpurchasedby
TicknorandFieldsfor$10,000twoyearsbefore.[69]Lowellreturnedto
ElmwoodbyJanuary1861butmaintainedanamicablerelationshipwith
thenewownersofthejournal,continuingtosubmithispoetryandprose
fortherestofhislife.[68]Hisprose,however,wasmoreabundantly
presentedinthepagesoftheNorthAmericanReviewduringtheyears
18621872.FortheReview,heservedasacoeditoralongwithCharles
EliotNorton.[70]Lowell'sreviewsforthejournalcoveredawidevariety
ofliteraryreleasesoftheday,thoughhewaswritingfewerpoems.[71]

Asearlyas1845,Lowellhadpredictedthedebateoverslaverywould
leadtowar[72]and,astheAmericanCivilWarbrokeoutinthe1860s, TheAtlanticMonthly,1857
LowellusedhisroleattheReviewtopraiseAbrahamLincolnandhis
attemptstomaintaintheUnion.[70]Lowelllostthreenephewsduringthewar,includingCharlesRussellLowell,
Jr,whobecameaBrigadierGeneralandfellatthebattleofCedarCreek.Lowellhimselfwasgenerallya
pacifist.Evenso,hewrote,"Ifthedestructionofslaveryistobeaconsequenceofthewar,shallweregretit?If
itbeneedfultothesuccessfulprosecutionofthewar,shallanyoneopposeit?"[73]HisinterestintheCivilWar
inspiredhimtowriteasecondseriesofTheBiglowPapers,[68]includingonespecificallydedicatedtothe
preliminaryEmancipationProclamationcalled"Sunthin'inthePastoralLine"in1862.[74]

ShortlyafterLincoln'sassassination,LowellwasaskedtopresentapoematHarvardinmemoryofgraduates
killedinthewar.Hispoem,"CommemorationOde",costhimsleepandhisappetite,butwasdeliveredonJuly
21,1865,[75]aftera48hourwritingbinge.[76]Lowellhadhighhopesforhisperformancebutwas
overshadowedbytheothernotablespresentingworksthatday,includingRalphWaldoEmersonandOliver
WendellHolmes,Sr."IdidnotmakethehitIexpected",hewrote,"andamashamedathavingbeentempted
againtothinkIcouldwritepoetry,adelusionfromwhichIhavebeentolerablyfreethesedozenyears."[77]
Despitehispersonalassessment,friendsandotherpoetssentmanyletterstoLowellcongratulatinghim.
Emersonreferredtohispoem's"highthought&sentiment"andJamesFreemanClarkenotedits"grandeurof
tone".[78]LowelllaterexpandeditwithastrophetoLincoln.[76]

Inthe1860s,Lowell'sfriendLongfellowspentseveralyearstranslatingDanteAlighieri'sDivineComedyand
regularlyinvitedotherstohelphimonWednesdayevenings.[79]Lowellwasoneofthemainmembersofthe
socalled"DanteClub",alongwithWilliamDeanHowells,CharlesEliotNortonandotheroccasional
guests.[80]ShortlyafterservingasapallbeareratthefuneraloffriendandpublisherNathanielParkerWillis,on
January24,1867,[81]Lowelldecidedtoproduceanothercollectionofhispoetry.UndertheWillowsandOther
Poemswasreleasedin1869,[71]thoughLowelloriginallywantedtotitleitTheVoyagetotheVinlandand
OtherPoems.Thebook,dedicatedtoNorton,collectedpoemsLowellhadwrittenwithintheprevioustwenty
yearsandwashisfirstpoetrycollectionsince1848.[82]

LowellintendedtotakeanothertriptoEurope.Tofinanceit,hesoldoffmoreofElmwood'sacresandrented
thehousetoThomasBaileyAldrichLowell'sdaughterMabel,bythistime,hadmovedintoanewhomewith
herhusbandEdwardBurnett,thesonofasuccessfulbusinessmanfarmerfromSouthborough,
Massachusetts.[83]LowellandhiswifesetsailonJuly8,1872,[84]afterhetookaleaveofabsencefrom
Harvard.TheyvisitedEngland,Paris,Switzerland,andItaly.Whileoverseas,hereceivedanhonorary
DoctorateofLawfromtheUniversityofOxfordandanotherfromCambridgeUniversity.Theyreturnedtothe
UnitedStatesinthesummerof1874.[83]

Politicalappointments

LowellresignedfromhisHarvardprofessorshipin1874,thoughhewas
persuadedtocontinueteachingthrough1877.[60]Itwasin1876that
Lowellfirststeppedintothefieldofpolitics.Thatyear,heservedasa
delegatetotheRepublicanNationalConventioninCincinnati,Ohio,
speakingonbehalfofpresidentialcandidateRutherfordB.Hayes.[85]
Hayeswonthenominationand,eventually,thepresidency.InMay
1877,PresidentHayes,anadmirerofTheBiglowPapers,sentWilliam
DeanHowellstoLowellwithahandwrittennoteprofferingan
ambassadorshiptoeitherAustriaorRussiaLowelldeclined,butnoted
hisinterestinSpanishliterature.[86]Lowellwasthenofferedand
acceptedtheroleofMinistertothecourtofSpainatanannualsalaryof
$12,000.[86]LowellsailedfromBostononJuly14,1877,and,thoughhe
expectedhewouldbeawayforayearortwo,hewouldnotreturntothe JamesRussellLowellinhislater
UnitedStatesuntil1885,withtheviolinistOleBullrentingElmwood years
foraportionofthattime.[87]TheSpanishmediareferredtohimas"Jos
Bighlow".[88]Lowellwaswellpreparedforhispoliticalrole,having
beentrainedinlaw,aswellasbeingabletoreadinmultiplelanguages.Hehadtroublesocializingwhilein
Spain,however,andamusedhimselfbysendinghumorousdispatchestohispoliticalbossesintheUnited
States,manyofwhichwerelatercollectedandpublishedposthumouslyin1899asImpressionsofSpain.[89]
Lowell'ssociallifeimprovedwhentheSpanishAcademyelectedhimacorrespondingmemberinlate1878,
allowinghimcontributetothepreparationofanewdictionary.[90]

InJanuary1880,LowellwasinformedhewasappointedMinistertoEngland,hisnominationmadewithouthis
knowledgeasfarbackasJune1879.Hewasgrantedasalaryof$17,500withabout$3,500forexpenses.[91]
Whileservinginthiscapacity,headdressedanimportationofallegedlydiseasedcattleandmade
recommendationsthatpredatedthePureFoodandDrugAct.[92]QueenVictoriacommentedthatshehadnever
seenanambassadorwho"createdsomuchinterestandwonsomuchregardasMr.Lowell".[93]Lowellheld
thisroleuntilthecloseofChesterA.Arthur'spresidencyinthespringof1885,despitehiswife'sfailinghealth.
LowellwasalreadywellknowninEnglandforhiswritingand,duringhistimethere,hebefriendedfellow
authorHenryJames,whoreferredtohimas"conspicuouslyAmerican".[93]LowellalsobefriendedLeslie
Stephenmanyyearsearlierandbecamethegodfathertohisdaughter,futurewriterVirginiaWoolf.[94]Lowell
waspopularenoughthathewasofferedaprofessorshipatOxfordafterhisrecallbypresidentGrover
Cleveland,thoughtheofferwasdeclined.[95]

Hissecondwife,Frances,diedonFebruary19,1885,whilestillinEngland.[96]

Lateryearsanddeath

HereturnedtotheUnitedStatesbyJune1885,livingwithhisdaughterandherhusbandinSouthboro,
Massachusetts.[97]HethenspenttimeinBostonwithhissisterbeforereturningtoElmwoodinNovember
1889.[98]Bythistime,mostofhisfriendsweredead,includingQuincy,Longfellow,Dana,andEmerson,
leavinghimdepressedandcontemplatingsuicideagain.[99]Lowellspentpartofthe1880sdeliveringvarious
speeches,[100]andhislastpublishedworksweremostlycollectionsofessays,includingPoliticalEssays,anda
collectionofhispoemsHeartseaseandRuein1888.[98]Hislastfewyearshe
traveledbacktoEnglandperiodically[101]andwhenhereturnedtotheUnited
Statesinthefallof1889,hemovedbacktoElmwood[102]withMabel,while
herhusbandworkedforclientsinNewYorkandNewJersey.[103]Thatyear,
LowellgaveanaddressatthecentenaryofGeorgeWashington'sinauguration.
Alsothatyear,theBostonCriticdedicatedaspecialissuetoLowellonhis
seventiethbirthdaytorecollectionsandreminiscencesbyhisfriends,including
formerpresidentsHayesandBenjaminHarrisonandBritishPrimeMinister
WilliamEwartGladstoneaswellasAlfredTennysonandFrancisParkman.[102]

Inthelastfewmonthsofhislife,Lowellstruggledwithgout,sciaticainhisleft
leg,andchronicnauseabythesummerof1891,doctorsbelievedthatLowell
hadcancerinhiskidneys,liver,andlungs.Hislastfewmonths,hewas
administeredopiumforthepainandwasrarelyfullyconscious.[104]Hediedon GraveofJamesRussell
August12,1891,atElmwood.[105]AfterservicesintheAppletonChapel,he LowellatMountAuburn
CemeteryinCambridge,
wasburiedinMountAuburnCemetery.[106]Afterhisdeath,Nortonservedas
Massachusetts
hisliteraryexecutorandpublishedseveralcollectionsofLowell'sworksandhis
letters.[107]

Writingstyleandliterarytheory

Earlyinhiscareer,JamesRussellLowell'swritingwasinfluencedby
Swedenborgianism,aSpiritualisminfusedformofChristianityfounded
byEmanuelSwedenborg,causingFrancesLongfellow(wifeofthepoet
HenryWadsworthLongfellow)tomentionthat"hehasbeenlonginthe
habitofseeingspirits".[108]Hecomposedhispoetryrapidlywhen
inspiredbyan"innerlight"butcouldnotwritetoorder.[109]He
subscribedtothecommonnineteenthcenturybeliefthatthepoetwasa
prophetbutwentfurther,linkingreligion,nature,andpoetry,aswellas
socialreform.[108]EvertAugustusDuyckinckandotherswelcomed
LowellaspartofYoungAmerica,aNewYorkbasedmovement.
Thoughnotofficiallyaffiliatedwiththem,hesharedsomeoftheir
ideals,includingthebeliefthatwritershaveaninherentinsightintothe
moralnatureofhumanityandhaveanobligationforliteraryaction
alongwiththeiraestheticfunction.[110]Unlikemanyofhis
contemporaries,includingmembersofYoungAmerica,Lowelldidnot
advocateforthecreationofanewnationalliterature.Instead,hecalled
foranaturalliterature,regardlessofcountry,caste,orrace,andwarned
againstprovincialismwhichmight"putfartheroffthehopeofonegreat
brotherhood".[29]HeagreedwithhisneighborLongfellowthat
"whoeverismostuniversal,isalsomostnational".[110]AsLowellsaid: PortraitofLowellbyThobald
Chartran,1880

Ibelievethatnopoetinthisagecanwritemuchthatis
goodunlesshegiveshimselfupto[theradical]tendency...
Theproofofpoetryis,inmymind,thatitreducestothe
essenceofasinglelinethevaguephilosophywhichis
floatinginallmen'sminds,andsorenderitportableand
useful,andreadytothehand...Atleast,nopoemever
makesmerespectitsauthorwhichdoesnotinsomeway
conveyatruthofphilosophy.[111]
Ascholaroflinguistics,LowellwasoneofthefoundersoftheAmericanDialectSociety.[112]Heusedthis
interestinhiswriting,particularlyinTheBiglowPapers,presentingaheavilyungrammaticalphoneticspelling
oftheYankeedialect,[26]amethodcalledeyedialect.Inusingthisvernacular,Lowellintendedtogetcloserto
thecommonman'sexperienceandwasrebellingagainstmoreformaland,ashethought,unnatural
representationsofAmericansinliterature.AshewroteinhisintroductiontoTheBiglowPapers,"few
Americanwritersorspeakerswieldtheirnativelanguagewiththedirectness,precision,andforcethatare
commonasthedayinthemothercountry".[113]Thoughintentionallyhumorous,thisaccuratepresentationof
thedialectwaspioneeringworkinAmericanliterature.[114]Forexample,Lowell'scharacterHoseaBiglowsays
inverse:

Efyoutakeaswordan'drorit,
Angostickafellerthru,
Guv'mentainttoanswertoit,
God'llsendthebilltoyou.[115]

LowellisconsideredoneoftheFiresidePoets,agroupofwritersfromNewEnglandinthe1840swhoallhada
substantialnationalfollowingandwhoseworkwasoftenreadaloudbythefamilyfireplace.BesidesLowell,
themainfiguresfromthisgroupwereLongfellow,Holmes,JohnGreenleafWhittier,andWilliamCullen
Bryant.[116]

Beliefs
Lowellwasanabolitionist,buthisopinionswaveredconcerningAfricanAmericans.Headvocatedsuffragefor
blacks,yethenotedthattheirabilitytovotecouldbetroublesome.Evenso,hewrote,"Webelievethewhite
race,bytheirintellectualandtraditionalsuperiority,willretainsufficientascendancytopreventanyserious
mischieffromtheneworderofthings."[117]Freedslaves,hewrote,were"dirty,lazy&lying".[118]Evenbefore
hismarriagetoabolitionistMariaWhite,Lowellwrote:"TheabolitionistsaretheonlyoneswithwhomI
sympathizeofthepresentextantparties."[119]Afterhismarriage,Lowellatfirstdidnotsharehiswife's
enthusiasmforthecause,buthewaseventuallypulledin.[120]Thecoupleoftengavemoneytofugitiveslaves,
evenwhentheirownfinancialsituationwasnotstrong,especiallyiftheywereaskedtofreeaspouseor
child.[121]Evenso,hedidnotalwaysfullyagreewiththefollowersofthemovement.Themajorityofthese
people,hesaid,"treatideasasignorantpersonsdocherries.Theythinkthemunwholesomeunlesstheyare
swallowed,stonesandall."[27]LowelldepictedSouthernersveryunfavorablyinhissecondcollectionofThe
BiglowPapersbut,by1865,admittedthatSouthernerswere"guiltyonlyofweakness"and,by1868,saidthat
hesympathizedwithSouthernersandtheirviewpointonslavery.[122]EnemiesandfriendsofLowellalike
questionedhisvacillatinginterestinthequestionofslavery.AbolitionistSamuelJosephMayaccusedhimof
tryingtoquitthemovementbecauseofhisassociationwithHarvardandtheBostonBrahminculture:"Having
gotintothesmooth,dignified,selfcomplacent,andchangehatingsocietyofthecollegeanditsBostoncircles,
Lowellhasgoneovertotheworld,andto'respectability'."[123]

Lowellwasalsoinvolvedinotherreformmovements.Heurgedbetterconditionsforfactoryworkings,
opposedcapitalpunishment,andsupportedthetemperancemovement.HisfriendLongfellowwasespecially
concernedabouthisfanaticismfortemperance,worryingthatLowellwouldaskhimtodestroyhiswine
cellar.[23]TherearemanyreferencestoLowell'sdrinkingduringhiscollegeyears,andpartofhisreputationin
schoolwasbasedonit.HisfriendEdwardEverettHaledeniedtheseallegations.Lowellconsideredjoiningthe
"AntiWine"clubatHarvard,andhebecameateetotalerduringtheearlyyearsofhisfirstmarriage.[124]
However,ashegainednotoriety,hebecamepopularinsocialcirclesandclubsandhedrankratherheavily
whenawayfromhiswife.Whenhedrank,hehadwildmoodswings,rangingfromeuphoriatofrenzy.[125]

Criticismandlegacy
In1849,Lowellsaidofhimself,"Iamthefirstpoetwhohasendeavored
toexpresstheAmericanIdea,andIshallbepopularbyandby."[126]
PoetWaltWhitmansaid:"Lowellwasnotagrowerhewasabuilder.
Hebuiltpoems:hedidn'tputintheseed,andwatertheseed,andsend
downhissunlettingtheresttakecareofitself:hemeasuredhispoems
keptthemwithinformula."[127]FellowFiresidePoetJohnGreenleaf
WhittierpraisedLowellbywritingtwopoemsinhishonorandcalling
him"ournewTheocritus"and"oneofthestrongestandmanliestofour
writersarepublicanpoetwhodarestospeakbravewordsofunpopular
truth".[128]BritishauthorThomasHughesreferredtoLowellasoneof
themostimportantwritersintheUnitedStates:"Greecehadher
AristophanesRomeherJuvenalSpainhashadherCervantesFrance
herRabelais,herMolire,herVoltaireGermanyherJeanPaul,her
HeineEnglandherSwift,herThackerayandAmericahasher LowellintheFamousAmerican
Lowell."[116]Lowell'ssatiresanduseofdialectwereaninspirationfor Poetsseries,1940
writerslikeMarkTwain,WilliamDeanHowells,H.L.Mencken,and
RingLardner.[129]

ContemporarycriticandeditorMargaretFullerwrote,"hisverseisstereotypedhisthoughtsoundsnodepth,
andposteritywillnotrememberhim."[130]DuyckinckthoughtLowellwastoosimilartootherpoetslike
WilliamShakespeareandJohnMilton.[131]RalphWaldoEmersonnotedthat,thoughLowellhadsignificant
technicalskill,hispoetry"ratherexpresseshiswish,hisambition,thantheuncontrollableinteriorimpulse
whichistheauthenticmarkofanewpoem...andwhichisfeltinthepervadingtone,ratherthaninbrilliant
partsorlines."[132]EvenhisfriendRichardHenryDanaJr.,questionedLowell'sabilities,callinghim"very
clever,entertaining&goodhumored...butheisratheratrifler,afterall."[133]Inthetwentiethcentury,poet
RichardArmourdismissedLowell,writing:"AsaHarvardgraduateandaneditorfortheAtlanticMonthly,it
musthavebeendifficultforLowelltowritelikeanilliterateoaf,buthesucceeded."[134]ThepoetAmyLowell
featuredherrelativeJamesRussellLowellinherpoemACriticalFable(1922),thetitlemockingAFablefor
Critics.Here,afictionalversionofLowellsayshedoesnotbelievethatwomenwilleverbeequaltomeninthe
artsand"thetwosexescannotberankedcounterparts".[135]ModernliterarycriticVanWyckBrookswrotethat
Lowell'spoetrywasforgettable:"onereadthemfivetimesoverandstillforgotthem,asifthisexcellentverse
hadbeenwritteninwater."[132]Nonetheless,in1969theModernLanguageAssociationestablishedaprize
namedafterLowell,awardedannuallyfor"anoutstandingliteraryorlinguisticstudy,acriticaleditionofan
importantwork,oracriticalbiography."[136]

Lowell'spoem"ThePresentCrisis",anearlyworkthataddressedthenationalcrisisoverslaveryleadingupto
theCivilWar,hashadanimpactinthemoderncivilrightsmovement.TheNationalAssociationforthe
AdvancementofColoredPeoplenameditsnewsletterTheCrisisafterthepoem,andMartinLutherKing,Jr.
frequentlyquotedthepoeminhisspeechesandsermons.[137]ThepoemwasalsothesourceofthehymnOnce
toEveryManandNation.[138]

Listofselectedworks
Poetrycollections

AYear'sLife(1841)
MiscellaneousPoems(1843)
TheBiglowPapers(1848)[24]
AFableforCritics(1848)[24]
Poems(1848)[24]
TheVisionofSirLaunfal(1848)[24]
 UndertheWillows(1869)[71]
TheCathedral(1870)[139]
HeartseaseandRue(1888)[98]

Essaycollections

ConversationsontheOldPoets(1844)
FiresideTravels(1864)[139]
AmongMyBooks(1870)[139]
MyStudyWindows(1871)[139]
AmongMyBooks(secondcollection,1876)[139]
DemocracyandOtherAddresses(1886)[98]
PoliticalEssays(1888)[98]

Seealso
Ilpesceballo
JamesRussellLowellSchool(Philadelphia)
TheKnickerbocker
MyStudyWindows(1871)
Notes

1.Nelson,39
2.Lowell,DelmarR.TheHistoricGenealogyoftheLowellsofAmericafrom1639to1899.Rutland,VT:TheTuttle
Company,1899:121122.
3.Sullivan,204
4.Sullivan,205
5.Heymann,55
6.Wagenknecht,11
7.Duberman,1415
8.Duberman,17
9.Sullivan,208
10.Duberman,20
11.Duberman,26
12. Warner,CharlesDudley(1900)."Lowell,JamesRussell".InWilson,JamesGrantFiske,John.Appletons'
CyclopdiaofAmericanBiography.NewYork:D.Appleton.
13.M.A.DeWolfeHowe(1933)."Lowell,JamesRussell".DictionaryofAmericanBiography.NewYork:Charles
Scribner'sSons.
14.Sullivan,209
15.Wagenknecht,50
16.Wagenknecht,135
17.Sullivan,210
18.Wagenknecht,136
19.Heymann,73
20.Sullivan,211
21.Yellin,JeanFagan."HawthorneandtheSlaveryQuestion",AHistoricalGuidetoNathanielHawthorne,LarryJ.
Reynolds,ed.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,2001:45.ISBN0195124146
22.Duberman,71
23.Sullivan,212
24.Wagenknecht,16
25.Heymann,72
26.Sullivan,213
27.Heymann,77
28.Hubbell,JayB.TheSouthinAmericanLiterature:16071900.Durham,NorthCarolina:DukeUniversityPress,
1954:373374.
29.Duberman,47
30.Duberman,53
31.Silverman,Kenneth.EdgarA.Poe:MournfulandNeverendingRemembrance.NewYork:HarperPerennial,1991:
201.ISBN0060923318
32.Duberman,410
33.Heymann,76
34.Duberman,113
35.Duberman,101
36.Sova,DawnB.EdgarAllanPoe:AtoZ.NewYork:CheckmarkBooks,2001:141142.ISBN081604161X.
37.Nelson,19
38.Duberman,112
39.Heymann,85
40.Duberman,116
41.Duberman,117
42.Wagenknecht,36
43.Heymann,98
44.Duberman,139
45.Duberman,134
46.Wagenknecht,139
47.Heymann,101
48.Duberman,136
49.Heymann,101102
50.Duberman,138
51.Heymann,102
52.Duberman,133
53.Heymann,103
54.Duberman,140
55.Heymann,104105
56.Sullivan,215
57.Duberman,141
58.Heymann,105
59.Sullivan,216
60.Wagenknecht,74
61.Heymann,107
62.Duberman,161
63.Heymann,106
64.Duberman,155
65.Duberman,154
66.Duberman,154155
67.Heymann,108
68.Heymann,119
69.Duberman,180
70.Sullivan,218
71.Heymann,132
72.Wagenknecht,183
73.Wagenknecht,186
74.Heymann,121
75.Duberman,224
76.Heymann,123
77.Sullivan,201
78.Duberman,224225
79.Arvin,Newton.Longfellow:HisLifeandWork.Boston:Little,BrownandCompany,1963:140.
80.Calhoun,CharlesC.Longfellow:ARediscoveredLife.Boston:BeaconPress,2004:236.ISBN0807070262
81.Baker,ThomasN.NathanielParkerWillisandtheTrialsofLiteraryFame.NewYork,OxfordUniversityPress,
2001:187.ISBN0195120736
82.Duberman,243
83.Heymann,134
84.Duberman,258
85.Heymann,136
86.Duberman,282
87.Duberman,282283
88.Heymann,137
 89.Heymann,136138
90.Duberman,294
91.Duberman,298299
92.Wagenknecht,168
93.Sullivan,219
94.Duberman,447
95.Sullivan,218219
96.Heymann,143
97.Heymann,145
98.Wagenknecht,18
99.Duberman,339
100.Duberman,352
101.Duberman,351
102.Heymann,150
103.Duberman,364365
104.Duberman,370
105.Duberman,371
106."TheLastTributePaid.JamesRussellLowellLaidAtRest.BuriedUnderHornbeamTreesInTheSpotHeHad
HimselfSelectedAndNearTheGraveOfLongfellowAtMountAuburn".NewYorkTimes.August15,1891.
Retrieved20100323."SimplebutimpressivefuneralservicesoverthebodyofthelateJamesRussellLowellwere
heldinAppletonChapel,Cambridge,atnoontoday...."
107.Heymann,152
108.Duberman,62
109.Wagenknecht,105106
110.Duberman,50
111.Duberman,5051
112.Wagenknecht,70
113.Heymann,86
114.Wagenknecht,71
115.Heymann,87
116.Heymann,91
117.Wagenknecht,175
118.Duberman,229
119.Heymann,63
120.Heymann,64
121.Duberman,112113
122.Wagenknecht,187
123.Heymann,122
124.Wagenknecht,29
125.Heymann,117
126.Sullivan,203
127.Nelson,171
128.Wagenknecht,Edward.JohnGreenleafWhittier:APortraitinParadox.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1967:
113.
129.Heymann,90
130.Blanchard,Paula.MargaretFuller:FromTranscendentalismtoRevolution.Reading,Massachusetts:Addison
WesleyPublishingCompany,1987:294.ISBN020110458X
131.Duberman,55
132.Sullivan,220
133.Sullivan,219220
134.Nelson,146
135.Watts,EmilyStipes.ThePoetryofAmericanWomenfrom1632to1945.Austin,Texas:UniversityofAustinPress,
1978:159160.ISBN9780292764507
136.""JamesRussellLowellPrize(http://www.mla.org/awardinfo_lowell)".ModernLanguageAssociation.Retrievedon
October1,2008.
137.ThePapersofMartinLutherKing,Jr,byMartinLutherKing,ClayborneCarson,PeterHolloran,RalphLuker,
PennyA.Russell,vol.1at417n.2
138.Peterson,WilliamJ.andArdythePeterson.TheCompleteBookofHymns.CarolStream,Illinois:TyndaleHouse
Publishers,Inc.,2006:185.ISBN9781414309330
139.Wagenknecht,17
Sources
Duberman,Martin.JamesRussellLowell.Boston:HoughtonMifflinCompany,1966.
Heymann,C.David.AmericanAristocracy:TheLivesandTimesofJamesRussell,Amy,andRobert
Lowell.NewYork:Dodd,Mead&Company,1980.ISBN0396076084
Nelson,RandyF.TheAlmanacofAmericanLetters.LosAltos,California:WilliamKaufmann,Inc.,
1981.ISBN086576008X
Sullivan,Wilson.NewEnglandMenofLetters.NewYork:TheMacmillanCompany,1972.ISBN002
7886808
Wagenknecht,Edward.JamesRussellLowell:PortraitofaManySidedMan.NewYork:Oxford
UniversityPress,1971.

Furtherreading
Greenslet,Ferris.JamesRussellLowell,HisLifeandWork.Boston:1905.
Hale,EdwardEverett.JamesRussellLowellandHisFriends.Boston:1899.
Scudder,HoraceElisha.JamesRussellLowell:ABiography.Volume1,(https://archive.org/details/james
russelllow07scudgoog)Volume2.(https://archive.org/details/jamesrusselllow06scudgoog)Published
1901.

Externallinks
WorksbyJamesRussellLowell(https://www.gutenberg.org/auth
WikimediaCommonshas
or/Lowell,+James+Russell)atProjectGutenberg
mediarelatedtoJames
WorksbyoraboutJamesRussellLowell(https://archive.org/sear RussellLowell.
ch.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Lowell%2C%20James%
20Russell%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Lowell%2C%20Jame
Wikiquotehasquotations
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C%20J%2E%20Russell%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22James%20Lowell%22%20OR%20creator%3
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0title%3A%22James%20R%2E%20Lowell%22%20OR%20title%3A%22J%2E%20R%2E%20Lowell%
22%20OR%20title%3A%22James%20Lowell%22%20OR%20description%3A%22James%20Russell%
20Lowell%22%20OR%20description%3A%22James%20R%2E%20Lowell%22%20OR%20descriptio
n%3A%22J%2E%20R%2E%20Lowell%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Lowell%2C%20James%20
Russell%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Lowell%2C%20James%20R%2E%22%20OR%20descripti
on%3A%22James%20Lowell%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Lowell%2C%20James%22%29%20
OR%20%28%2218191891%22%20AND%20Lowell%29%29%20AND%20%28mediatype:software%
29)atInternetArchive
WorksbyJamesRussellLowell(http://librivox.org/author/1204)atLibriVox(publicdomainaudiobooks)

FullViewBooks(https://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=100&ie=ISO88591&btnG=Google+Se
arch&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_libcat=0&as_brr=1&lr=&as_vt=&as_auth=James+Russell+Lowell
&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb=c&as_miny=&as_maxy=&as_isbn=)withPDFdownloadsatGoogle
Books
TheCompleteWritingsofJamesRussellLowell(https://books.google.com/books?id=_dM6AAAAMAAJ
&printsec=frontcover&dq=James+Russell+Lowell&lr=&client=firefoxa),editedbyCharlesEliot
 Norton
TheOliverWendellHolmesLibrary(http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/coll/119.html)attheLibraryof
CongresshasnoteworthyrepresentationvolumesinscribedbyJamesRussellLowell.
PapersofJamesRussellLowell(http://id.lib.harvard.edu/aleph/000604332/catalog)atHarvard
UniversityArchives
JamesRussellLowellMiscellaneousCorrespondence(MSAm1191)(http://id.lib.harvard.edu/aleph/000
601790/catalog)atHoughtonLibrary,HarvardUniversity.

Diplomaticposts
Precededby U.S.MinistertoSpain Succeededby
CalebCushing 18771880 LuciusFairchild
U.S.MinistertoGreat
Precededby Succeededby
Britain
JohnWelsh EdwardJ.Phelps
18801885

Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Russell_Lowell&oldid=766853166"

Categories: 19thcenturyAmericanpoets Americanmalepoets Romanticpoets Americanessayists

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