John L. Lawrence (October 2, 1785 – July 24, 1849) was an American lawyer, diplomat, and politician from New York.

Early life

John was born in New York City. He was the son of Jonathan Lawrence (1737–1812), a merchant and New York State Senator, and Ruth ( née Riker) Lawrence (1746–1818), a member of the Riker family, for whom Rikers Island is named. ^[1] Among his siblings were brothers Samuel Lawrence (1773–1837), a Congressmen, and William T. Lawrence (1788–1859). ^[2]

He was also a direct descendant of Capt. James Lawrence, a hero of the War of 1812, ^[3] and Maj. Thomas Lawrence of the British Army who received a land grant in 1656 in what became Queens. ^[4]

He graduated from Columbia College in 1803. ^[5]

Career

From June 7, 1814, to May 19, 1815, he was Chargé d'Affaires at Stockholm, representing the United States during the absence of Minister to Sweden Jonathan Russell. ^[6]

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co.) in 1816–17. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. ^[7]

He was a presidential elector in 1840, voting for William Henry Harrison and John Tyler. ^[7]

He was a member of the New York State Senate (4th D.) in 1848 and 1849. In May 1849, he was appointed New York City Comptroller, ^[8] but died two months later. ^[7]

Personal life

On June 2, 1816, he married Sarah Augusta Smith (1794–1877), daughter of Elizabeth (née Woodhull) Smith (daughter of Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull) and General John Tangier Smith, a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from New York. ^[9] Together, John and Sarah were the parents of eleven children, including Abraham Riker Lawrence, a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York. ^[10]

Lawrence died of cholera in New York City on July 24, 1849. ^[11]

References