John Lowell
Appointed by President George Washington in 1789 and confirmed by voice vote, John Lowell was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He previously served on the U.S. Circuit Court for the First Circuit. Sources ↓
- Lived
- 1743–1802
- Appointed by
- George Washington, 1789
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Chief judge
- U.S. Circuit Court for the First Circuit, 1801 to 1802
- Succeeded by
- John Davis
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1789 | District of Massachusetts | Washington (–) | Voice vote |
| 1801 | U.S. Circuit Court for the First Circuit chief judge 1801 to 1802 | J. Adams (N) | Voice vote |
Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.
Confirmation vote
Voice vote
The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.
Education
| Harvard College | 1760 | |
| Read law | 1763 |
Before the bench
Professional career before and outside the federal bench, as recorded by the Federal Judicial Center.
| Private practice, Newburyport, Massachusetts | 1763-1771, 1773, 1775 |
| Selectman, Newburyport, Massachusetts | 1771-1772, 1774, 1776 |
| Massachusetts militia major | 1776 |
| Private practice, Boston, Massachusetts | 1777-1778, 1779-1781 |
| State representative, Massachusetts | 1778, 1780-1782 |
| Delegate, Massachusetts constitutional convention | 1780 |
| Delegate, Continental Congress | 1782-1783 |
| Judge, Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture | 1783- |
| Member, commission on the boundary between Massachusetts and New York | 1784 |
| State senator, Massachusetts | 1784-1785 |
Questions & answers
- Who appointed John Lowell?
- President George Washington appointed John Lowell to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in 1789.
- What was John Lowell's confirmation vote?
- John Lowell was confirmed by voice vote on September 26, 1789. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
- Which court was John Lowell on?
- John Lowell was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Sources
Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.
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11 years on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Data as of 2026-09-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).