James Russell Lowell
(1819–1891)

James Russell Lowell may have been the most talented of the Fireside Poets. His literary career was disrupted by personal tragedies, however, and he was never able to fulfill his early promise as a poet. Still, Lowell did make many important contributions to the world of literature as a poet, editor, and critic.

Lowell was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the descendant of a prominent family. He graduated from Harvard Law School but quickly lost interest in practicing law. Instead, Lowell decided to pursue a career in literature, publishing his first book of poetry, A Year's Life, in 1841. While continuing to write poetry and essays, Lowell also supported the Abolitionist Movement. He frequently wrote editorials attacking slavery, thereby establishing him as one of the country's leading abolitionist journalists.

In 1848, Lowell's literary career reached its peak. During that year he published three of his best works: A Fable for Critics, a satire of other American writers of his time; The Biglow Papers, a collection of poems and letters; and the Vision of Sir Launfal, an epic poem about medieval knighthood. All three works were very successful, earning him international fame.

Unfortunately, Lowell's literary success was overshadowed by tragic events in his personal life. Three of his four children died in infancy, and he lost his beloved wife, Maria, in 1853. Following Maria's death, Lowell lost his focus as a writer, and he found himself unable to produce poems or essays that matched his earlier work.

During the second half of his life, Lowell gradually turned away from writing toward other interests. In 1855, he succeeded Longfellow as professor of languages at Harvard, and he remained there until 1872. Lowell also helped to found the Atlantic Monthly, a respected literary magazine, and served as its first editor. Later Lowell became co-editor of the North American Review, another distinguished literary magazine. Then, in 1877, Lowell began a career in diplomacy, serving for a number of years as the American ambassador to Spain and, later, Great Britain.

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