Thomas Lawrence (mayor)

Thomas Lawrence (1689–1754) was a merchant who was elected to six one-year terms as mayor of Philadelphia between 1729 and his death in 1754. He was also a founder and trustee of The Academy and College of Philadelphia.[1]

Thomas Lawrence
Born(1689-09-04)September 4, 1689[1]
New York City, New York
DiedApril 21, 1754(1754-04-21) (aged 64)[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupationmerchant, politician

Formative years

Born in New York City, Lawrence moved to Philadelphia in 1720, where, for the rest of his life, he was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1730, after being associated with James Logan, Lawrence formed a partnership with Edward Shippen; Shippen & Lawrence became one of Philadelphia's leading firms.

Political career

Apart from his life in private business, Lawrence held several positions of trust in the city, including serving as mayor for six one-year terms, as city councilman and alderman, and as judge of the county court. During 1730 he worked with Dr. John Kearsley and Andrew Hamilton on a committee for the preparation and planning to build the Philadelphia state house, the later Independence Hall.[2] At the provincial level, Lawrence began his service on the Provincial Council in 1728.

Death and interment

Lawrence died in Philadelphia in 1754, while still an office holder, and was buried at Philadelphia's Christ Church Burial Ground.[3]

Following his death, a notice was placed in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette which lauded Lawrence's record of public service and his humanity in all aspects of his life.

Legacy

Lawrence was a founder and trustee of The Academy and College of Philadelphia.

Preceded by
Charles Read		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1727–1729
(2 terms)		 Succeeded by
Thomas Griffitts
Preceded by
Thomas Griffitts		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1734–1735		 Succeeded by
William Allen
Preceded by
Clement Plumsted		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1737–1738		 Succeeded by
Anthony Morris
Preceded by
Charles Willing		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1749–1750		 Succeeded by
William Plumsted
Preceded by
Benjamin Shoemaker		 Mayor of Philadelphia
1753–1754
(died in office)		 Succeeded by
Charles Willing

References
  1. Montgomery, Thomas Harrison (1900). A History of the University of Pennsylvania from Its Foundation to A. D. 1770. Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co. pp. 59–61. LCCN 00003240.
  2. Browning, Charles H. (1916). "The State House Yard, and Who Owned It First after William Penn. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 40(1), p.87
  3. Map of Old Christ Church Burial Ground Archived 2006-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
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