William Lawrence (London MP) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Lawrence
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William Lawrence, Lord Mayor of London.
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| Member of Parliament for City of London |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1818 |
| Died | 18 April 1897 |
Sir William Lawrence (born 1818 – died 18 April 1897) was an important English builder. He was also a politician from the Liberal Party. He served in the House of Commons, which is like the main law-making body in the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) during two different periods between 1865 and 1885.
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Life and Career of William Lawrence
William Lawrence was the oldest son of William Lawrence, who was an alderman of the City of London. An alderman is a senior member of a city council. His mother was Jane Clarke.
Starting as a Builder
William Lawrence followed in his father's footsteps. He became a builder in London. He was a partner in a company called William Lawrence and Sons Builders. This company helped build many parts of London.
Public Service Roles
Besides being a builder, William Lawrence held several important public jobs:
- In 1857, he was the High Sheriff of London and Middlesex for one year. A High Sheriff is a ceremonial officer of the Crown in a county.
- From 1863 to 1864, he served as the Lord Mayor of London. This is a very important role, leading the City of London's government.
- He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for the City of London. This is a senior volunteer role that supports the Lord-Lieutenant.
- He worked as a J.P. for Middlesex and Westminster. A Justice of the Peace is a volunteer who handles minor legal cases.
- He continued to serve as an alderman of London, just like his father.
Time in Parliament
William Lawrence became a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent a group of people in the House of Commons.
First Term as MP
At the general election in 1865, William Lawrence was chosen to be an MP for the City of London. However, he lost his seat in the election of 1874.
Second Term as MP
He was elected again in the 1880 general election. He kept his seat until the next general election in 1885. At that time, the number of MPs for the City of London was reduced. He was the last Liberal Party member to represent the City of London.
Later Political Efforts
In the 1885 general election, he tried to become an MP for Paddington South. He ran as an independent Liberal, meaning he wasn't officially backed by a major party. However, he did not win this election.
Later Life and Family
William Lawrence never married. He passed away at the age of 78. He is buried in the eastern part of Kensal Green Cemetery in London.
His funeral service was led by Brooke Herford. He, like his father, attended the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel. William Lawrence had two brothers who were also MPs:
- Sir James Lawrence, 1st Baronet was an MP for Lambeth.
- Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence was an MP for Truro.
His nephew, Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, was also an MP later on. He was known for being a pacifist (someone against war) and a suffragist (someone who supported women's right to vote).
Images for kids
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William Lawrence, Lord Mayor of London.
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The grave of Sir William Lawrence MP, Kensal Green Cemetery.
