Served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, and U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, England

(1819-91) Born and died at Cambridge, Mass. He was a world known poet, writer, educator, public servant, and foremost American man of letters in his time. He graduated from Harvard, and the Harvard Law School. He succeeded Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as Smith professor of French and Spanish, and professor of belles letters at Harvard. Lowell became involved in the movement to abolish slavery, using poetry to express his anti-slavery views and taking a job in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the editor of an abolitionist newspaper. He accepted a professorship of languages at Harvard in 1854, and continued teaching there for 20 years. Before officially assuming his teaching duties in 1856, he traveled to Europe. In 1857, he became the editor of the Atlantic Monthly. He served as the United States Minister to Spain, 1877-80, and the United States Minister to the Court of St. James, England, 1880-85.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Standing view wearing an overcoat. Period ink inscription on the front mount, James Russell Lowell, Poet. Backmark: E. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York, From Photographic Negative in Brady's National Portrait Gallery. There is also a dated period pencil inscription on the reverse of the card that reads, "Bought of Frank Taylor, Va. Av., Wash., D.C., Mar. 13, '62. The card has some old mounting remnants on the reverse. Light age toning. Very fine.