James Russell Lowell was a poet, critic, editor, and writer.
accomplishments are spread throughout many fields of study, though he never.
quite excelled in any one area. Lowell was a very influential and respected man.
in his lifetime, though after his death his popularity dropped.
James Russell Lowell was born on February 22, 1819 in Cambridge, Mass. to.
Reverend Charles Lowell and Harriet Brackett Spence. Lowell attended Harvard.
after his attendance at a boarding school. His senior year there, he was.
suspended from school because of his "continued neglect of his college duties.".
Upon this he was then sent to Concord under the care of Reverend Barzillai.
Frost. At Harvard, Lowell earned his B.A. in 1838, LL.B. in 1840, and his M.A.
in 1841. Lowell initially attempted to enter the field of law, but after a year.
with no clientele he dropped this dream.
Lowell married Maria White in 1844. Together they had 4 children, though 3 of.
them died in infancy. Maria had a great influence on him. Lowell, previously.
anti-abolition, quickly changed his views and began writing anti-slavery poems.
These poems appeared in the Liberty Bell and the Pennsylvania Freeman. He also.
became the corresponding secretary of the New York Anti-Slavery Standard.
In 1843, Lowell started a literary magazine, the Pioneer, which failed after a.
mere two issues. Though the magazine was short lived it featured many great.
poets including Hawthorne, Whittier, and Poe. Lowell's Poems (1844, 1846), A.
Fable for Critics (1848), The Vision of Sir Launfal (1848), and The Biglow.
Papers (1848; 2d series, 1867) brought him recognition as both a poet and a.
critic. Of these works, Lowell is best remembered for The Biglow Papers,.
political satires written in Yankee dialect about the Mexican War and the.
North's involvement in the Civil War, was possibly his most influential works of.
his time.
