Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-23
From the Baltimore Sun.


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event which the recent accounts Of his feeble
health and failing strength have rendered every
day more probable. He died at ii o'clock on
Saturday morning His disease is reported to
have been congestion of the liver. As well
known member of an enterprisng, wealthy, and
munifcent family, his loss will be deeply felt in
his own State, and will attract attention through
out the country, through which he was extern
sivey known as one Of the chief supporters Of
the great manufacturing interest, and in lesser
degree as public man. The New York Post
has this brief sketch of his life:
Mr. Lawrence was born in 1892 in the village
of Groton, in Massachusetts, and was therefore
about 63 years of age at the time of his decease,
and probably in the prime of his mental powers.
His father was respectable farmer of Middlesex
county, Of limited means, wEo was too poor to
to give his large family of children any better
education than the village common school af-
forded. In 1903, he went to Boston, whittier his
elder brother Amos had preceded him, and en-
gagged in business limited scale as retail
merchant Having been successful in this un-
dertaking, IN the course of few years he went
into partnership with Amos as an importing
merchant. The firm did large business in
British tabrcs, and for several years Mr. Law
renee resided in England as purchasing partner
He continued in this branch Of trade, with
high reputation for integrity and business ca
pacity, until the establishment of manufactures
in Now England, when he left the importing
business, and invested largely in the calico mills
Of Lowell with which he continued ever after
wards to be intimately identified In this bust
ness, in which he amassed princey fortune, and
aided largely in building up the city of Lowell to
its present prosperous condition, he was for many
years the head of the great firm of A. & A. Law
renee & Co.
In 1895, Mr.. Lawrence first entered public life,
and until 1889 served as representative from Bos-
ton in the twenty and twenty-ffth Con-
gress.
In 1643 he was appointed one of the commits
sioners for the settlement of the northeastern
boundary question. In politics he was an ardent
Wing, and after the rise of manufactures in
New England, strong advocate for protection,
and for long time liberal friend and firm sup
porter of Mr.. Webster, from whom he separated
on the question of the g fitness of the nomina-
ton of General Taylor, which the latter never
could heartily adopt, but which Mr.. Lawrence
advocated, during the canvass of l848, with great
energy
In acknowledgment of his services and support,
General Taylor appointed him Minister to the
Court of st. James, post which Mr.. Lrwrence
filled with general acceptance Since his return
from England he has been almost exclusively de-
voted to the extensive business in which his i'm
mense fortune is employed
Mr.. Lawrence was married many years ago to
daughter of Colonel Bigelow, of Middlesex
county, and leaves, besides his widow, three sons
and two daughters, all Of whom are married
He was a man of remarkably fine personal APP
pearance, of frank and cordial address, and un-
bounded hospitality. His liberality has also been
exemplifed in the magnificent donation of $780,
900 to establish the Lawrence Scientific School,
connected with Harvard University. Without
displaying any marked ability as public man,
he occupied respectable position, and, in the
management Of his private business, was active,
and generally successful.
The New York Express, in notice Of the de-
ceased, says:
His youth was passed in his native village, and
his educathion such could be afforded by
the village schools. He was, however, early
launched upon the ocean of active life to secure
for himself name and place among his fellows.
As self-made man he stood forth pre-eminently
a model for all young men In 1908, when about
seventeen years of age, he removed from Groton
TO Boston, with view of entering upon
camille career, and in connection with his elder
brother, the late Amos Lawrence, carried on
small retail business in that city. II has been
stated that, in after life, and even while repre-
senting the Unfed States Government at the Court
of st. James, he was accustomed to carry about
with him, in his wastcoat pocket, the identical
pair of scissors with which, some forty years ago,
he clipped off tape and trimmings in his first little
store in Boston
Nothing could better illustrate the independent
and democratic character Of the man than this lit
tie incident; for the truth of which we have ex-
Governor Briggs voucher. After a few
years experience in shop keeping, Messrs. Amos
and Abbott Lawrence established themselves, up
OH n larger scale, as importers; and subsequently
connected with that business the manufacturing
Il ..,,fs. caI -, u -
they made large investments. Their extensive
operations and magnificent enterprises soon had
the effect 10 greatly increase their wealth, and the
house finally found il to their interest to with
draw from the business Of importing, and to con-
fine their attention and capital 10 cotton manuac-
lures at Lowell and elsewhere. The result may
be briefly summed up, and made evident by re-
ference 10 the rapid growth and prosperity Of
Lowell and Lawrence, of which city the Messrs.
Lawrence among the first founders, and most
eminent promoters. The business of the present
firm of A. s. A. Lawrence & Co., extending as il
does, commercial network over the entire range
Of American and foreign markets, and amounting
to upwards Of ten millions of dollars per annum-
is another evidence of the energy, enterprise and
far-sghted policy of the original founders of that
well known house.
The fact is not noted by the Express that Mr.
Lawrence lacked but one vote in the Wing Ma
tional Convention Of being the Wing nominee for
the Vice Presidency, and consequently narrowly
escaped the Presidential chair, afterwards, on the
death of General Taylor, filled by Willard Fill
more The same paper states that the estate Of
the deceased is estimated at s3,000,000, and
adds:
Mr.. Lawrence, although not naturally so lib
eral in detail as was his brother Amos has up
on several occasions linked his name with magni-
icent generosites, as, for instance, the princey
donation of $4,000 to Harvard University, in
lS47, and also, the endowment Of the Lawrence
High School of Boston. He was munifccnt
rather than benevolent, and seldom gave except
in large sums, and under circumstances which
would secure n reboundng upon himself Of the
honor which cometh from men.
In politics Mr.. Lawrence was, of late years,
Wing Of the Henry Clay school, and, Of course, a
staunch supporter Of the protective tariff scheme.
During few years previous TO the death Of
Daniel Webster, there. existed GOODNESS between
the two faverite sons Of Massachusetts,, which,
we believe, was never entirely removed-owing,
perhaps, TO Mr. Lawrcnce's absence in Europe
until Mr.. Webster had closed his eyes in death.
Mr.. Lawrence, however, was among the sincere
mourners in the train of tho "Great Expounder. /"
In literature Mr. Lawrence has accomplished
latfa