Background
He was the son of State Senator Jonathan Lawrence (1737–1812) and Ruth (Riker) Lawrence (1746–1818).
He was the son of State Senator Jonathan Lawrence (1737–1812) and Ruth (Riker) Lawrence (1746–1818).
He graduated from Columbia College in 1803.
From June 7, 1814, to May 19, 1815, he was Chargé d"Affaires at Stockholm, representing the United States during the absence of Minister to Sweden Jonathan Russell. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. He was a presidential elector in 1840, voting for William Henry Harrison and John Tyler.
In May 1849, he was appointed New York City Comptroller, but two months later he died of cholera.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Company) in 1816-1817. He was a member of the New York State Senate (4th Doctorate) in 1848 and 1849.