1. John Lowell was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation, a judge of the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture under the Articles of Confederation, a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and a United States circuit judge of the United States Circuit Court for the First Circuit.
John Lowell entered private practice in Newburyport from 1763 to 1771,1773, and 1775.
John Lowell was a selectman for Newburyport from 1771 to 1772, in 1774, and in 1776.
John Lowell served in the Massachusetts militia as a major in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War.
John Lowell continued private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1777 to 1778, and from 1779 to 1781.
John Lowell was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1778, and from 1780 to 1782.
John Lowell was a delegate to the Massachusetts constitutional convention in 1780.
John Lowell was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation from 1782 to 1783.
John Lowell was a judge of the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture under the Articles of Confederation starting in 1783.
John Lowell was a member of a commission on the boundary between Massachusetts and New York in 1784.
John Lowell was a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1784 to 1785, and a US Senate candidate in 1788.
From his practice of the law and shipping ventures John was able to acquire a large estate and a considerable sum of money throughout his lifetime and despite not being from the richest family growing up he was able to raise the value of the Lowell name.
John Lowell's service terminated on February 20,1801, due to his elevation to the First Circuit.
John Lowell was confirmed by the Senate on February 20,1801, and received his commission the same day.
John Lowell's service terminated on May 6,1802, due to his death in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
In 1778, John Lowell became an original trustee of Phillips Academy.
In 1780, John Lowell became a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.