upon its adoption into the Bill of Rights, "All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties..." Lowell's son, the Rev. Charles Lowell, D.D., wrote in a personal letter eight decades later, "My father introduced into the Bill of Rights the clause by which Slavery was abolished in Massachusetts... and when it was adopted, exclaimed: 'Now there is no longer Slavery in Massachusetts, it is abolished and I will render my services as a lawyer gratis to any slave suing for his freedom if it is withheld from him...' and he did so defend the negro slave against his master under this clause of the constitution which was declared valid by the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1783, and since that time Slavery in Mass. has had no legal standing." Highlights of his congressional service During Lowell's service, the Congress of the Confederation met in the library of Nassau Hall at Princeton University and "congratulated George Washington on his successful termination of the war, received the news of the signing of the definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain, and welcomed the first foreign minister—from the Netherlands—accredited to the United States." Federal judicial service Lowell was nominated by President George Washington on September 24, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, to a new seat authorized by . He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, and received his commission on September 26, 1789. His service terminated on February 20, 1801, due to his elevation to the First Circuit. Lowell was nominated by President John Adams on February 18, 1801, to the United States Circuit Court for the First Circuit, to the new Chief Judge seat authorized by . He was confirmed by the Senate on February 20, 1801, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on May 6, 1802, due to his death in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Membership In 1778, John Lowell became an original trustee of Phillips Academy. In 1780, Lowell became a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1787, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society. Family Lowell's ancestor, Percival, a merchant, came from Bristol, England, to Newbury, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 1639, and his father, John, was the