Robert Traill Spence Lowell

Robert Traill Spence Lowell (October 8, 1816 – September 12, 1891) was an Episcopal clergyman and educator. Biography Lowell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, a son of Charles Russell Lowell, Sr. and Harriet Traill Spence. He studied at Round Hill School, under Joseph Cogswell and George Bancroft, and graduated from Harvard in 1833. He then took a full course at Harvard Medical School, and engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time. In 1839, he began the study of theology under advice of Alonzo Potter (afterward bishop of Pennsylvania), and prepared for orders. He was invited by Bishop Spencer, of Newfoundland, to go to Bermuda, where he was made deacon in December 1842, and priest in March 1843, and was also appointed domestic chaplain to the bishop and inspector of schools in the colony. He went to Newfoundland in 1843, and was appointed to the charge of Bay Roberts ("Peterport" in his novel The New Priest). While he was occupied in duty here, fishery failure and potato blight brought a severe famine upon the people (1846), during which Lowell's medical training proved to be especially useful. He was chairman of the relief committee of the district, and earned the thanks and gratitude of the government and people. His health and strength gave way, and he found it necessary to return to the United States in 1847.