Lawrence Lawrason
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Lawrason was a businessman and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Ancaster Township
, Upper Canada
in 1803. He found work as a clerk at the age of 14 with merchants James Hamilton and John Warren at Queenston
and later at Sterling (now St. Thomas
). In 1822, he purchased a farm in London Township
with his brothers. He also opened a general store and distillery
. In 1832, he moved to London and opened a general store and also sold dry goods wholesale, in partnership with George Jervis Goodhue
. In 1835, he was named a justice of the peace. From 1842 to 1845 and 1847 to 1850, Lawrason was a member of the council for London District. He was elected to represent London in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
in an 1844 by-election; he was reelected in the general election of the same year but then resigned to give William Henry Draper
a seat in the assembly. He was named an officer to settle rebellion losses claims in the district in the same year. Lawrason served on the town council for London. He was also president of the London and Port Stanley Railway and a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
. He served in the local militia, becoming lieutenant-colonel by 1856. After he retired in 1855, he loaned a large amount of money and guaranteed loans for his son-in-law, Lionel Augustus Clark Ridout. Following a downturn in the economy and the death of his son-in-law, Lawrason was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1864.
He died in London in 1882.
He was born in Ancaster Township
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1803. He found work as a clerk at the age of 14 with merchants James Hamilton and John Warren at Queenston
Queenston, Ontario
Queenston is located 5 km north of Niagara Falls, Ontario in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The community is bordered by Highway 405 and the Niagara River; its location on the Niagara Escarpment led to the establishment of the now-defunct Queenston Quarry in the area...
and later at Sterling (now St. Thomas
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
). In 1822, he purchased a farm in London Township
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
with his brothers. He also opened a general store and distillery
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
. In 1832, he moved to London and opened a general store and also sold dry goods wholesale, in partnership with George Jervis Goodhue
George Jervis Goodhue
George Jervis Goodhue was a Canadian merchant, landowner, and politician.Born in Putney, Vermont, the son of Josiah Goodhue and Rachel Burr, Goodhue came to Canada in 1820. A merchant in London, Ontario, he owned a store, distillery and ashery. He was elected to Township of London Council in 1838...
. In 1835, he was named a justice of the peace. From 1842 to 1845 and 1847 to 1850, Lawrason was a member of the council for London District. He was elected to represent London in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
in an 1844 by-election; he was reelected in the general election of the same year but then resigned to give William Henry Draper
William Henry Draper
William Henry Draper was a lawyer, judge, and politician in Upper Canada later Canada West.-Personal life:...
a seat in the assembly. He was named an officer to settle rebellion losses claims in the district in the same year. Lawrason served on the town council for London. He was also president of the London and Port Stanley Railway and a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
. He served in the local militia, becoming lieutenant-colonel by 1856. After he retired in 1855, he loaned a large amount of money and guaranteed loans for his son-in-law, Lionel Augustus Clark Ridout. Following a downturn in the economy and the death of his son-in-law, Lawrason was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1864.
He died in London in 1882.