Frederick Lothrop Ames was born on June 8, 1835 at North Easton, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Oliver Ames Jr. and Sarah Lothrop. His family was a wealthy one. His grandfather Oliver Ames Sr. was the founder the Ames Shovel Works which earned the family a huge fortune. His father was the president of the Union Pacific Railroad. His cousin Oliver Ames served as a governor of Massachusetts 1887-1890.
Ames was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard College in 1854.
Ames entered Oliver Ames & Sons in 1863, becoming treasurer in 1876. On the death of his father in 1877, Frederick became head of the Ames & Sons Corporation. He carried almost as many business burdens as his sire. A director or official in threescore of railroads, an officer of banks and trusts, an authority on railroads, a fellow of Harvard College, one of the heaviest owners of Boston realty including the Ames Building, Frederick Ames was a power in industrial circles. Yet he gave the same care to the Home for Incurables of which he was president, to the Unitarian Society, to the Massachusetts School for the Blind, the Perkins Institute, the McLean Insane Asylum, and the Children's Hospital as to his lucrative business connections.
His diversion was horticulture, and for thirty years he was a leader in the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and a willing contributor to the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. This austere capitalist and executive had an enlightened interest in all things human save political preferment, but even there his neighbors in his absence nominated and elected him to a term in the state Senate (1872).
Ames died suddenly of cerebral apoplexy on September 13, 1893.
Ames became known as the head of the Ames & Sons Corporation, Vice President of the Old Colony Railroad and director of the Union Pacific Railroad. He served as director of forty railroads, probably more than any other person in the country. He also owned over six million dollars in Boston real estate, as well as real estate in Kansas City and Omaha and was reported to be the wealthiest person in Massachusetts. Ames was also known widely as an art collector and an avid amateur orchid gardener. His collection of orchids became one of the finest in the country. The orchid amesianus was named in his honor.
Ames was a Unitarian and member of both the Unity Church of North Easton and the First Church in Boston.
Ames was a Republican during his one term in the Massachusetts State Senate.
Ames was a cold, forceful, and unostentatious man; he stood about five feet 11 inches, and weighed about 175 pounds.
On June 7, 1863, Ames was married to Rebecca, the daughter of James Blair of St. Louis, by whom he had six children.
