Philip Burrill Low (1836-1912)
Congressman Philip B. Low, of New York; Founder of the U.S. Naval Reserve
He was born at Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was a brother of the Numismatist, Lyman Haynes Low. He started his career on the Pacific Coast, serving first as an officer and then as a Commander in the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. On the outbreak of Civil War, he returned to New England and entered the Massachusetts Naval Volunteers with the rank of Ensign. He served on the "Commodore Morris" under Commander Gillis in Virginia. After the war, he became a merchant at Boston before coming to New York in 1865. In 1895, he was elected as a Republican to represent New York's 15th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving until 1899. He organized and was the first Commander of the New York State Naval Militia and is today remembered as the Founder of the United States Naval Reserve. He died at his home, 307 Lenox Avenue, New York.
