John Lowell, 1743–1802, American jurist, b. Newburyport, Mass. He became (1762) a lawyer and later served in the provincial assembly (1776, 1778), in the state constitutional convention (1779–80), and in the Continental Congress (1782–83). Lowell was a member (1784) of the commission that settled the New York–Massachusetts boundary dispute, and after 1789 he held several major judicial posts. He was a founder of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was the father of Francis Cabot Lowell and John Lowell (1769–1840).

John Lowell, 1769–1840, American political writer, b. Newburyport, Mass.; son of John Lowell (1743–1802). He practiced law, but devoted most of his time to supporting his Federalist views in newspapers and pamphlets. Mr. Madison's War (1812) was his most effective piece of writing.