Amos A. Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amos A. Lawrence
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Amos A. Lawrence seated at desk, c. 1880
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| Born |
Amos Adams Lawrence
July 31, 1814 |
| Died | August 22, 1886 (aged 72) |
| Education | Groton Academy (now called Lawrence Academy) |
| Alma mater | Harvard College |
| Occupation | Merchant, abolitionist |
| Known for | Privately donating funds to the founding of the University of Kansas anti-slavery movement Jayhawker movement |
| Political party | Whig American (1858) Constitutional Union (1860) Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Sarah Appleton
(m. 1842) |
| Children | 4, including William and Harriet |
| Parent(s) | Amos Lawrence |
| Relatives | Samuel Lawrence (grandfather) Luther Lawrence (uncle) Abbott Lawrence (uncle) Jane Pierce (cousin) |
Amos Adams Lawrence (July 31, 1814 – August 22, 1886) was an American businessman and a very generous person. He also worked hard to end slavery in the United States before the Civil War. He helped the Episcopal Church grow in Massachusetts. He was important in starting the University of Kansas and Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
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Early Life
Amos Adams Lawrence was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 31, 1814. His father, Amos Lawrence, was a successful merchant. He was also known for his kindness and giving to others.
Amos Adams Lawrence went to Groton Academy. He then graduated from Harvard College in 1835.
Career and Helping Others
After college, Lawrence started his own business. He became a successful merchant. He later owned Ipswich Mills. This company made a lot of knit clothing. It was the biggest producer in the country.
In 1858 and 1860, he ran for governor of Massachusetts.
Helping Communities and Schools
Lawrence gave money to start the University of Kansas. This university is in Lawrence, Kansas, which was named after him.
In 1847, he started a college that is now Lawrence University. He bought a large piece of land for it in 1844. Some of this land became Appleton, Wisconsin. This town was named after his father-in-law.
His farm near Boston later became the campus for Boston College. From 1857 to 1862, he was in charge of money for Harvard College. He also helped oversee Harvard from 1879 to 1885. Lawrence gave a lot of money to Harvard. He also supported the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Other schools he helped were Lawrence Academy and the Groton School.
Fighting Against Slavery
A big event in 1854 changed Lawrence's mind about slavery. He and other businessmen became strong supporters of ending slavery.
Lawrence gave a lot of money to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company. This group helped people who were against slavery move to Kansas. He also gave money to help free Black people move to Liberia. He even sent guns, called Sharps rifles, to anti-slavery groups in Kansas. These guns were hidden and called "books" or "primers."
During a time of violence in Kansas, called Bleeding Kansas, Lawrence often wrote to President Franklin Pierce. President Pierce was married to Lawrence’s cousin, Jane. Lawrence wrote to ask for help for the settlers who wanted Kansas to be a free state.
He also gave money to support John Brown and his legal defense. However, Lawrence did not agree with Brown's extreme actions. He urged Brown not to use violence against the government. When Brown was arrested, Lawrence asked the Governor of Virginia to give him a fair trial.
In 1862, Lawrence helped create a group of soldiers on horseback. This group became the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry.
Family Life
In 1842, Lawrence married Sarah Elizabeth Appleton. Her father, William Appleton, was a U.S. Representative. Amos and Sarah had four children:
- Amory Appleton Lawrence (1848–1912)
- William Lawrence (1850–1941), who became a bishop in Massachusetts.
- Susan Mason Lawrence (1852–1923)
- Harriet Lawrence Hemenway (1858-1960), who helped start the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Grandchildren
Through his son William, Amos Lawrence had two grandsons who also became bishops. They were William Appleton Lawrence (1889–1968) and Frederic Cunningham Lawrence (1899–1989).
Death and What He Left Behind
Amos Adams Lawrence passed away at his summer home in Nahant, Massachusetts, in 1886.
His Legacy
Lawrence is known for helping to start an Episcopal church in Boston, Massachusetts. This led many important Boston families to join the Episcopal Church. His son, William Lawrence, later became a well-known Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts.
His old school, Groton Academy, was later renamed after him. Today, it is called the Lawrence Academy at Groton.
