He commenced practice in Groton, where he soon gathered
round him a host of valuable clients. He repeatedly repre-
sented his native town in the Legislature, and was Speaker of
of the House of Eepresentatives in 1821 and 1822. At the
earnest solicitation of his brothers who had largely invested
in the mills here, he removed to Lowell, in 1831, and engaged
in practice, first with Elisha Glidden, and afterward with
Thomas Hopkinson. In 1838, he was elected Mayor, and
re-elected in 1839. In sixteen days after his second inaug-
uration, the accident occurred which deprived Lowell of one of
the ablest and worthiest of her adopted sons. This shocking
catastrophe filled the community with mourning ; and prepa-
rations were made for a grand public funeral ; but this, the
family of Mr. Lawrence modestly declined. Appropriate reso-
lutions were passed by the City Council, bearing testimony to
his high-minded and honorable character, — ^his judicious ad-
ministration of the city government, — his lively interest in the
various public institutions with which he had been connected,
— his unselfishness and liberality, — ^his efibrts to promote the
moral and religious interests of the place, — his amenity of
behavior, and kindliness of feeling for all around him. His
remains were interred in the cemetery of his native town.
