Sir William Lawrence, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Matthew Trevor Lawrence, 3rd Baronet JP
FSA
(17 September 1870 – 4 January 1934) was an English
horticulturalist
, hospital administrator and collector.
and at New College
, Oxford. On 24 February 1908 he married Iris Eyre, daughter of Brigadier-general Eyre Macdonell Stewart Crabbe, CB
, and by her had two sons and three daughters. His eldest daughter, Barbara, married Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark, a county court judge and crime writer as Cyril Hare
, and his second daughter, Anne, was the mother of Rose Gray
, of The River Cafe
. On 22 December 1913 he succeeded to his father’s baronetcy (see Lawrence Baronets
).
, as a demonstrator and then assistant lecturer in chemistry. But in 1902 he took up one of the new posts of junior inspector with the Board of Education
and became a senior examiner in 1912.
However succeeding in 1913 to his father's title and estate at Burford, Dorking, freed him to live a public life, especially in the fields of horticulture, medical administration, and the collection of objects of fine art.
During the First World War he served for a time as secretary of the Prisoners of War information bureau. Later he was attached to the Admiralty war staff, and then to the Intelligence branch of the War Office.
Both Lawrence’s father and grandfather had been important figures in the medical world; his grandfather (Sir William Lawrence
) was a pioneering surgeon based chiefly at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and Serjeant-Surgeon to Queen Victoria, and his father (Sir Trevor Lawrence M.P.
) chaired the Central Hospital Council and was treasurer of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Lawrence himself was Almoner of the same hospital, and actually died there suddenly while on hospital business.
Lawrence was also a Justice of the Peace
for Surrey
.
and Vice-President of the Iris Society. Lady Lawrence was also a keen gardener, also winning the Victoria Medal of Honour
in her own right.
He was Treasurer of the Royal Horticultural Society
at the time of the building of its new hall in Westminster; in 2000 this was renamed the Lawrence Hall after him ("not forgetting Sir Trevor Lawrence", according to the Society's History).
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(17 September 1870 – 4 January 1934) was an English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horticulturalist
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, hospital administrator and collector.
Early life
Lawrence was born on 17 September 1870, the son of Sir Trevor Lawrence and Elizabeth Matthew. He was educated at Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and at New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, Oxford. On 24 February 1908 he married Iris Eyre, daughter of Brigadier-general Eyre Macdonell Stewart Crabbe, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, and by her had two sons and three daughters. His eldest daughter, Barbara, married Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark, a county court judge and crime writer as Cyril Hare
Cyril Hare
Cyril Hare, the pseudonym of Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark was an English judge and crime writer.- Life and work :...
, and his second daughter, Anne, was the mother of Rose Gray
Rose Gray
Rose Gray, MBE was a British chef and cookery writer, who set up The River Café in 1987. She won a Michelin star for this in 1998. It was here that the talents of Jamie Oliver were first spotted...
, of The River Cafe
The River Café (London)
The River Café is a restaurant in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England, specializing in Italian cuisine. It is owned and run by chef Ruth Rogers and until early 2010, Rose Gray....
. On 22 December 1913 he succeeded to his father’s baronetcy (see Lawrence Baronets
Lawrence Baronets
There have been seven Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Lawrence, one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and five in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom....
).
Career
Lawrence had read chemistry at Oxford, and though he only achieved a 3rd class degree he went on to Heidelberg and then Berlin to do a doctorate. He then spent five years at Owens College, ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, as a demonstrator and then assistant lecturer in chemistry. But in 1902 he took up one of the new posts of junior inspector with the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
and became a senior examiner in 1912.
However succeeding in 1913 to his father's title and estate at Burford, Dorking, freed him to live a public life, especially in the fields of horticulture, medical administration, and the collection of objects of fine art.
During the First World War he served for a time as secretary of the Prisoners of War information bureau. Later he was attached to the Admiralty war staff, and then to the Intelligence branch of the War Office.
Both Lawrence’s father and grandfather had been important figures in the medical world; his grandfather (Sir William Lawrence
Sir William Lawrence, 1st Baronet
Sir William Lawrence, 1st Baronet FRCS FRS was an English surgeon who became President of the Royal College of Surgeons of London and Serjeant Surgeon to the Queen....
) was a pioneering surgeon based chiefly at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and Serjeant-Surgeon to Queen Victoria, and his father (Sir Trevor Lawrence M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
) chaired the Central Hospital Council and was treasurer of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Lawrence himself was Almoner of the same hospital, and actually died there suddenly while on hospital business.
Lawrence was also a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Horticulture
Lawrence's chief interest, however, was horticulture, an interest he had inherited from his father and grandmother, both horticulturalists of note. He was, among other roles, President of the Alpine Garden Society, an officer of the Ordre du Merite Agricole, a winner of the Victoria Medal of HonourVictoria Medal of Honour
The Victoria Medal of Honour is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society...
and Vice-President of the Iris Society. Lady Lawrence was also a keen gardener, also winning the Victoria Medal of Honour
Victoria Medal of Honour
The Victoria Medal of Honour is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society...
in her own right.
He was Treasurer of the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
at the time of the building of its new hall in Westminster; in 2000 this was renamed the Lawrence Hall after him ("not forgetting Sir Trevor Lawrence", according to the Society's History).