Lowrie, Walter

Lowrie, Walter

(1784–1868) Protestant administrator, U.S. senator; born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He emigrated to Pennsylvania with his family in 1792. He taught school in Butler, Pa., and entered local politics, holding several small offices before winning election to the U.S. Senate; he spoke out against slavery during his single Senate term (Dem., 1819–25). From 1825–36 he was secretary of the Senate. From 1836 on he directed the activities of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. Three of his sons became foreign missionaries.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.