James Bowdoin III

Biography

James Bowdoin III continued the public service of his father by mixing practical governance with an abiding passion for arts and learning, serving in state offices and supporting the fledgling cultural institutions of Boston. A benefactor of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he collected books, paintings, and scientific instruments so that Massachusetts might rival older cities in intellectual life.

He also served on committees in support of the new nation’s fiscal needs and encouraged the founding of Bowdoin College, which embodied the ideals of education for civic virtue. His memory endures beside other champions of knowledge at Granary Burying Ground.