William Lawrence
in 35th Congress
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 17th district
In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859
Preceded by	Charles J. Albright
Succeeded by	Thomas Clarke Theaker
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the Guernsey County district
In office December 4, 1843 – December 1, 1844
Preceded by	William Douglas
Succeeded by	William Skinner
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 19th district
In office January 7, 1856 – March 4, 1857
Preceded by	Western T. Sinclair
Succeeded by	M. Morron
In office January 6, 1868 – January 2, 1870
Preceded by	R. Savage
Succeeded by	James O. Amos
In office January 4, 1886 – January 1, 1888
Preceded by	inactive
Succeeded by	David H. Mortley
Personal details
Born	(1814-09-02)September 2, 1814 Old Washington, Ohio
Died	September 8, 1895(1895-09-08) (aged 81) Old Washington, Ohio
Resting place	Washington Cemetery, Old Washington
Political party	Democratic
Children	James Lawrence
Alma mater	Jefferson College

William Lawrence (September 2, 1814 – September 8, 1895) was a state legislator and one-term member of the United States House of Representatives from the 17th District of Ohio, serving from 1857 to 1859.

He also served as President of the board of directors of the Ohio Penitentiary.

Lawrence was born in Washington, Guernsey County, Ohio. He graduated from Jefferson College (now Washington & Jefferson College) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania in 1835.

After farming for a few years, Lawrence was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1843. He was a Presidential elector in 1848 for Secretary of State Lewis Cass, and Congressman William Orlando Butler.^[1] He was a delegate to the Ohio State constitutional convention in 1851. From 1856 to 1857, he served in the Ohio Senate.

On March 4, 1857, William Lawrence (D) was sworn-in as the Representative from the 17th Congressional District of Ohio to the 35th U.S. Congress. Lawrence served only in this Congress, as he was elected only to one term in office.

Upon leaving Congress, Lawrence served again in the Ohio Senate (in 1867, 1885, and 1886).

He also served as president of the board of directors of the Ohio Penitentiary, a prison in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

William Lawrence died in Old Washington, Ohio on September 8, 1895, and is interred at the Washington Cemetery.

Lawrence was father of Ohio Attorney General James Lawrence.^[2]

• Taylor, William Alexander; Taylor, Aubrey Clarence (1899). Ohio statesmen and annals of progress: from the year 1788 to the year 1900 ... Vol. 1. State of Ohio. p. 255.

• William Lawrence at Find a Grave