Joseph Lawrence (Pennsylvania politician)

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For other people with the same name, see Joseph Lawrence (disambiguation).

Joseph Lawrence
Member of the
Treasurer of Pennsylvania
In office
1835–1836
GovernorGeorge Wolf
Joseph Ritner
Preceded byAlexander Mahon
Succeeded byDaniel Sturgeon
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1818–1824
1834–1836
Personal details
Born1786 (1786)
Democratic Republican

Joseph Lawrence (1786 – April 17, 1842) was a member of the

U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.

Early life

Joseph Lawrence (father of

George Van Eman Lawrence) was born near Hunterstown, Pennsylvania. He moved with his widowed mother to a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania
, in 1789, and attended the common schools. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1818 to 1824 and served as 53rd Speaker from December 7, 1819 to December 7, 1822. On December 7, 1819, he was elected speaker with a vote of 56 of 93 representatives voting, out of 94 (other votes were: Phineas Jenks – 21, Rees Hill – 14, Wilson Smith – 1, William Lehman – 1).[1] On December 3, 1822, he was elected speaker with a vote of 65 (other votes were John Gilmore – 23 and Jacob Holgate – 8).[2] In the general election of 1820, he received 3,083 votes.[3]

United States Congress

He was elected as an Adams candidate to the

1838 to the Twenty-sixth Congress. He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress and served until his death in Washington, D.C. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Roads and Canals
during the Twenty-seventh Congress.

Other political activities

Lawrence served as chairman of the Democratic convention of PA state legislators in 1824.

Wheeling (in Virginia at the time but now West Virginia) in 1840, Lawrence was president of the Pennsylvania delegation. He individually introduced all the soldiers who fought in the American Revolution who were present at the convention.[7]

Death

His death occurred shortly after 11 am. He had been ill for approximately two weeks prior to death; his eldest son and son's wife died weeks before him.[8]

Memorial

On Monday, April 18, 1842,

William Wallace Irwin of Pennsylvania took to the floor of the House of Representatives to announce Lawrence's death. He followed with a eulogy. This was the only business transacted in the House on that day. After customary arrangements, the House adjourned for the day.[9] Lawrence is interred in the Congressional Cemetery
.

See also

References

  • United States Congress. "Joseph Lawrence (id: L000137)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • The Political Graveyard

Sources

  1. ^ Carlisle Republican. Vol. 1, no. 6. December 14, 1819. p. 23. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Berks and Schuylkill Journal. Vol. 7, no. 29. December 14, 1822. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "General Election Return, For 1820". Washington (PA) Reporter. October 16, 1820. p. 3.
  4. ^ Public Ledger and Daily Transcript. December 13, 1836. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Death of the Hon. Joseph Lawrence". The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 19, 1842. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Democratic Convention". Oracle of Dauphin. January 17, 1824. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Great Convention at Wheeling". North American and Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia). September 11, 1840. p. 2.
  8. ^ "Death of the Hon. Joseph Lawrence". The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 19, 1842. p. 2.
  9. ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 20, 1842. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Political offices
Preceded by
Treasurer of Pennsylvania

1835–1836 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
1825–1829 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district
1841–1842 		Succeeded by
Thomas M. T. McKennan
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