Percival Lowell American businessman, orientalist, diplomat, astronomer and mathematician Date of Birth: 13.05.1855 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Orientalist Pursuits
3. Astronomical Discoveries
4. Mars and the Search for Life
5. Controversies and Legacies
6. Honors and Recognition
7. Personal Life and Death

Early Life and Education

Percival Lowell, an American businessman, orientalist, diplomat, astronomer, and mathematician, was born into one of Boston's oldest families, who had settled in the United States since 1721. His clan produced numerous distinguished individuals, including his younger brother, Abbott Lawrence Lowell, who became president of Harvard University, and his younger sister, Amy Lawrence Lowell, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Imagist poet.

Lowell attended the prestigious Noble and Greenough School, graduating in 1872, and Harvard University, graduating in 1876, with a degree in mathematics. From an early age, he harbored a keen interest in astronomy.

Orientalist Pursuits

In the 1880s, Lowell inherited the family business, which included textile mills and an electric company. During this time, he became captivated by the Far East, pursuing studies in orientalism, particularly focusing on Japanese language.

In 1883, Lowell was appointed attaché and advisor to the Korean embassy in the United States. He embarked on three extended trips to Japan between 1883 and 1893, engaging in scholarly research and diplomacy. His notable orientalist works included "Noto" (1891) and "Occult Japan" (1894).

Astronomical Discoveries

In 1894, Lowell made a pivotal decision to dedicate himself to astronomy. He established an observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he attracted the best minds of his time, including William Pickering and Vesto Slipher.

Lowell's three books on Mars became bestsellers, popularizing the idea that the planet was inhabited by an advanced civilization. His meticulous observations and drawings (more than 15,000 by Lowell alone) formed the basis of his controversial theory.

Mars and the Search for Life

Lowell's theory of Martian life was rooted in his belief that planets evolve through distinct stages. He hypothesized that Mars was in the "Terrestrial Stage," where oceans were drying up, forcing a highly advanced civilization to construct a global network of canals to transport water from polar ice caps.

However, his theories faced skepticism from the scientific community. Observations by other astronomers, including Eugène Antoniadi, failed to confirm the existence of canals, and experiments suggested that optical illusions could explain their appearance.

Controversies and Legacies

Despite losing scientific support, Lowell's theories resonated with the public, influencing writers like H.G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs. His observatory became a landmark in the study of Mars, and despite his erroneous conclusions, he left an enduring mark on the field of astronomy.

Honors and Recognition

Lowell was a highly respected figure, receiving numerous accolades, including the Janssen Medal from the French Astronomical Society (1904) and the Gold Medal from the Astronomical Society of Mexico (1908), both for his Martian research. He was also an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Orientalist Society, the French Astronomical Society, and the Astronomical Societies of the United States, Belgium, Germany, and Mexico.

Personal Life and Death

Lowell married Constance Savage, and they had one daughter, Vesta Lowell. He passed away from a stroke at the age of 61 and was laid to rest in a mausoleum on the grounds of his observatory.