Background
Lowrie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, from where he emigrated with his parents the United States. state of to Pennsylvania.
politician mayor of Pittsburgh
Lowrie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, from where he emigrated with his parents the United States. state of to Pennsylvania.
As a young man he came to Pittsburgh and started a thriving grocery business. Mathew Lowrie was elected mayor in 1830 and is credited with "modernizing" the fire department. The city bought its very first steam powered fire engine and named it the "citizen".
Lowrie was also instrumental in managing the city"s rapid growth by adopting the "ward" system of governance for the first time in western Pennsylvania.
Lowrie died in 1850 after a bout with cholera, he is buried in Allegheny Cemetery and the site is marked by an obelisk.