Hiram Harrison Lowry

Hiram Harrison Lowry (May 29, 1843 – January 13, 1924) was an educator, Methodist clergyman and college president of China.

Early life

Lowry was born on May 29, 1843 in Zanesville, Ohio to Hiram and Margaret née Speare. He graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University, and received the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts and Doctor of Divinity. In 1862-63 Lowry served during the American Civil War in the ninety-seventh regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1867 he was ordained to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was sent out to China.

China

On October 10, 1867, Lowry arrived with his wife, Parthenia Nicholson in Foochow, where they labored till 1869. In 1869 he was sent to Peking, where the foundations of the work of the North China Mission was laid. In 1870 Lowry built up the first Methodist church in Northern China, the Asbury Church (today the Chongwenmen Church in Beijing), named after the American Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury. From 1873 to 1893, Lowry served as superintendent of North China Mission, and since 1914 president of Huiwen University (匯文大學), the precursor of Yenching University (燕京大学). Lowry retired in 1922 and died in Peking on January 13, 1924. He was survived by six children.

References

• Shavit, David (1990): The United States in Asia: A Historical Dictionary
• History of Chongwenmen Church (in Chinese)
• "Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad 1924;" "US Consular Registration Certificates 1910;" "US Passport Applications 1916" via Find a Grave.