the Lawrence Mills were started; and the town was visited by President
Andrew Jackson and members of his Cabinet, and later by the great
statesman, Henry Clay.

In 1834, Belvidere was included in Lowell, and the town had the honor of
entertaining Colonel David Crockett, George Thompson, M.P., the English
abolitionist (not cordially), and M. Chevalier, the French political
economist.

In 1835, Joel Stone, of Lowell, and Joseph P. Simpson, of Boston, built
the steamboat Herald, for navigating between Lowell and Nashua, but the
enterprise proved a failure; the Nashua and Lowell Railroad Company
was incorporated; the Lowell Almshouse was started; the hall of the
Middlesex Mechanics' Association was built; and the Lowell Courier, the
oldest daily newspaper in Middlesex County, was established.

[Illustration: SUFFOLK-STREET ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.]

In 1836, the population of Lowell was 17,633. During the year the Boott
Mills were started, and a city charter was adopted.

[Illustration: THE THIRD UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
Now Barristers' Hall.]

Dr. Elisha Bartlett was elected first mayor of the city of Lowell. He
was succeeded, in 1838, by the Honorable Luther Lawrence; in 1840, by
the Honorable Elisha Huntington, M.D.; in 1842, by the Honorable
Nathaniel Wright; in 1844, by Dr. Huntington; in 1846, by the Honorable
Jefferson Bancroft; in 1849, by the Honorable Josiah B. French; in 1851,
by the Honorable J.H.B. Ayer; in 1852, by Dr. Huntington; in 1853, by