Lovell, James, 1737-1814

LOVELL, James, a Delegate from Massachusetts; born in Boston, Mass., October 31, 1737; attended the public schools; was graduated from the Boston Latin School in 1752 and from Harvard College in 1756; completed a postgraduate course at the latter institution in 1759; taught in the Boston Latin School 1757-1775 and was also master of the North Grammar (now the Eliot) School; imprisoned by General Howe during the Revolutionary War and conveyed to Halifax in 1775; Member of the Continental Congress 1777-1782; receiver of continental taxes 1784-1788; collector of customs at Boston, Mass., in 1788 and 1789; appointed naval officer of the port of Boston and Charlestown and served from August 3, 1789, until his death in Windham, Maine, July 14, 1814.

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1781 MA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1780 MA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1779 MA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1778 MA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1777 MA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1776 MA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

<p>James Lovell (October 31, 1737 – July 14, 1814) was a Founding Father of the United States and an 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.</p>

<p>Lovell was born in Boston and had his preparatory education at the Boston Latin School. 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 a Master of Arts degree from Harvard in 1759. Father and son continued their work in the Latin School until it was closed in April 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the American Revolutionary War.</p>

<p>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. He was chosen to give an oration to the town the first year after the Boston Massacre, which he delivered at the Old South Church. 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 spent nine months in the Boston Stone Jail.</p>