Background
He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and was the son of John Lawson and Sarah Shatford.
He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and was the son of John Lawson and Sarah Shatford.
He was a founding director and first president of the Bank of Nova Scotia, now known as Scotiabank. The bank was incorporated by the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly on March 30, 1831 in Halifax, Nova Scotia with William Lawson (banker) (1772–1848) serving as the first president The bill ensured that any bank directors were responsible for double the amount of their holdings in case of insolvency.
This clause was an innovation in British North America, and came at a time when most banks limited liability to the value of a shareholder’s stock.
As a means of building trust and ensuring the savings of depositors, the concept provided stability to the fledgling bank which prospered and spread quickly from its inception in the Merchants" Coffee House, Halifax to become an international financial institution. William and Elizabeth had fourteen children and resided in a house at the corner of Hollis and Salter streets, built by Malachy Salter, about 1760.
The house was sold by Lawson"s heirs in 1856 to John Esson, and the land now comprises part of the site of Maritime Centre, in downtown Halifax.
As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, he introduced a bill chartering a public bank. Besides his mercantile and shipping ventures he served as an elected member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly from 1806 to 1836, and was appointed to the Legislative Council from 1838 to 1845.