Joseph Lawrence (Pennsylvania politician)

Joseph Lawrence (1786 – April 17, 1842) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Joseph Lawrence
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st district
In office March 4, 1841 – April 17, 1842
Preceded by	Isaac Leet
Succeeded by	Thomas M. T. Thompson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 15th district
In office March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829
Preceded by	Thomas Patterson
Succeeded by	William McCreery
21st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office 1823–1823
Preceded by	John Gilmore
Succeeded by	Joel Barlow Sutherland
19th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office 1820–1820
Preceded by	Rees Hill
Succeeded by	John Gilmore
Treasurer of Pennsylvania
In office 1835–1836
Governor	George Wolf Joseph Ritner
Preceded by	Alexander Mahon
Succeeded by	Daniel Sturgeon
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office 1818–1824 1834–1836
Personal details
Born	1786 Hunterstown, Pennsylvania
Died	April 17, 1842 (aged 55–56) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic Republican

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 53th 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 Nineteenth and Twentieth Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1828 to the Twenty-first Congress. He was again a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1834 to 1836. He was nominated for the United States Senate in 1836, along with future President James Buchanan and others.[4] He served as state treasurer[5] in 1837. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 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.[6] At the Whig Convention at 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

• Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

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

Sources

1. Carlisle Republican. 1 (6). December 14, 1819. p. 23. Missing or empty |title= (help)
2. Berks and Schuylkill Journal. 7 (29). December 14, 1822. p. 3. 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. Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. "Death of the Hon. Joseph Lawrence". 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". Philadelphia Inquirer. April 19, 1842. p. 2.
9. Philadelphia Inquirer. April 20, 1842. p. 2. Missing or empty |title= (help)