Samuel R. Lowery (December 9, 1830 or 1832  – c. 1900) was an preacher and lawyer, who was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court upon the motion of Belva Lockwood.

[1] In 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, he went to Nashville to preach to the black soldiers and freedmen in the area.

At the time, Colonel R. K. Crawford of the 40th United States Colored Troops was in command and Lowery was denied commission as chaplain of the regiment.

The school began to struggle in 1872, with reasons given including financial improprieties[2] and the Ku Klux Klan.

[1] The accusations of financial improprieties were based on an 1872 fundraising tour of the north by Lowery and another teacher, Daneil Wadkins.

[7] Lowery moved back to Nashville, where he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law.

He also traveled to Washington DC a number of times to seek federal aid for the industry.

[12] In August 1900, Lowery traveled to Boston for the meetings led by Booker T. Washington which founded the National Negro Business League.