James Lovell (delegate)
Encyclopedia
James Lovell was an American
educator and statesman from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a delegate for Massachusetts
to the Continental Congress
from 1777 to 1782. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation
.
. His father, John Lovell (1710–1778) was the school's headmaster from 1738 until 1775. James attended Harvard
and graduated in 1756. He then joined his father and taught at the Latin School, while continuing his own studies. He received an MA (Master of Arts) degree from Harvard in 1759. Father and son continued their work in the Latin School until it was closed on April, 1775, during the Siege of Boston
in the American Revolutionary War
.
While the school produced a number of revolutionary leaders, including John Hancock
and Samuel Adams
, the approaching revolution split father and son. John wrote and endorsed loyalist or Tory positions, while James became aligned with the Whigs and associated growing rebel sentiment. Following the Battle of Bunker Hill
on June 17, 1775, the new military Governor William Howe
, ordered the arrest of likely dissidents in Boston. James Lovell was picked up in the sweep, and transported as a prisoner to Halifax (former city), Nova Scotia.
The following year, his father also came to Halifax, but as a refugee. The elder Lovell left Boston in March 1776 as part of the general exodus of Loyalists when British forces abandoned the city. In November 1776, James was exchanged for Colonel Philip Skene. When he got back to Boston in December, he was elected to be a delegate to the Continental Congress. He would serve in Congress until 1782.
. He was particularly important as a long term member of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence and that of Secret Correspondence
.
He signed the Articles of Confederation, endorsing them for Massachusetts on July 9, 1778.
In one area his performance was controversial. In 1776 and 1777, there was a growing struggle for influence and command in the Continental Army
. Lovell became a supporter of Horatio Gates
in his lobbying quest for command. He encouraged Gates in reporting directly to Congress, in effect going over Washington's
head. This reached its peak when Gates was given command of the Northern Department
, replacing Philip Schuyler
in the summer of 1777.
A womanizer in Philadelphia, Lovell was also a frequent correspondent with both John and Abigail Adams. In his correspondence to Abigail he flirted wondering what John was doing with his private time in France. He also used John's pet name of Portia in his correspondence.
He died in Windham, Maine
(then part of Massachusetts) on July 14, 1814.
and in Rhode Island
. In 1779 he was assigned as adjutant and major to Light Horse Harry Lee's Southern Legion and fought in the Southern Campaigns. He is reported to have fought valiantly and was wounded several times.
James's grandson, by James S., was Joseph Lovell
who served as Surgeon General of the Army from 1818 when Congress created the position until 1836.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and statesman from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a delegate for Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from 1777 to 1782. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
.
Early life
James was born in Boston and had his preparatory education at the Boston Latin SchoolBoston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
. His father, John Lovell (1710–1778) was the school's headmaster from 1738 until 1775. James attended Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and graduated in 1756. He then joined his father and taught at the Latin School, while continuing his own studies. He received an MA (Master of Arts) degree from Harvard in 1759. Father and son continued their work in the Latin School until it was closed on April, 1775, during the Siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
While the school produced a number of revolutionary leaders, including John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
and Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was an American statesman, political philosopher, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As a politician in colonial Massachusetts, Adams was a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, and was one of the architects of the principles of American...
, the approaching revolution split father and son. John wrote and endorsed loyalist or Tory positions, while James became aligned with the Whigs and associated growing rebel sentiment. Following the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
on June 17, 1775, the new military Governor William Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC was a British army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American War of Independence...
, ordered the arrest of likely dissidents in Boston. James Lovell was picked up in the sweep, and transported as a prisoner to Halifax (former city), Nova Scotia.
The following year, his father also came to Halifax, but as a refugee. The elder Lovell left Boston in March 1776 as part of the general exodus of Loyalists when British forces abandoned the city. In November 1776, James was exchanged for Colonel Philip Skene. When he got back to Boston in December, he was elected to be a delegate to the Continental Congress. He would serve in Congress until 1782.
Congressional career
Lovell served effectively in the Congress during the six years that were critical to the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He was particularly important as a long term member of the Committee of Foreign Correspondence and that of Secret Correspondence
Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War
Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War was essentially monitored and sanctioned by the Continental Congress to provide military intelligence to the Continental Army to aid them in fighting the British during the American Revolutionary War...
.
He signed the Articles of Confederation, endorsing them for Massachusetts on July 9, 1778.
In one area his performance was controversial. In 1776 and 1777, there was a growing struggle for influence and command in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. Lovell became a supporter of Horatio Gates
Horatio Gates
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a retired British soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Benedict Arnold, who led the attack, was finally forced from the field when he was shot in the leg – and...
in his lobbying quest for command. He encouraged Gates in reporting directly to Congress, in effect going over Washington's
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
head. This reached its peak when Gates was given command of the Northern Department
Departments of the Continental Army
In the American Revolutionary War units of the Continental Army were assigned to any one of seven regional or territorial departments to decentralize their command and administration. This was necessary because the regiment was the largest permanent unit in the Continental Army...
, replacing Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
in the summer of 1777.
A womanizer in Philadelphia, Lovell was also a frequent correspondent with both John and Abigail Adams. In his correspondence to Abigail he flirted wondering what John was doing with his private time in France. He also used John's pet name of Portia in his correspondence.
Later events
After his term in Congress, Lovell returned to teaching, but continued to hold various political offices. He was collector of taxes in Massachusetts from 1784 to 1788 and Customs Officer of Boston in 1778 and 1789.He died in Windham, Maine
Windham, Maine
Windham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 17,001 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of South Windham and North Windham...
(then part of Massachusetts) on July 14, 1814.
Family
His son, James S. Lovell (1758–1850) served in the Continental Army from 1776 to 1782. After graduating from Harvard in 1776, he joined the 16th Massachusetts regiment as a lieutenant, and saw action at Battle of MonmouthBattle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
and in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. In 1779 he was assigned as adjutant and major to Light Horse Harry Lee's Southern Legion and fought in the Southern Campaigns. He is reported to have fought valiantly and was wounded several times.
James's grandson, by James S., was Joseph Lovell
Joseph Lovell
Dr. Joseph Lovell was the 8th Surgeon General of the United States Army, ,-Family:Lovell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of James S. and Deborah Lovell...
who served as Surgeon General of the Army from 1818 when Congress created the position until 1836.