| William Lawrence | |
| State: | Ohio |
| District: | 17th |
| Term Start: | March 4, 1857 |
| Term End: | March 3, 1859 |
| Preceded: | Charles J. Albright |
| Succeeded: | Thomas Clarke Theaker |
| State House2: | Ohio |
| District2: | Guernsey County |
| Term Start2: | December 4, 1843 |
| Term End2: | December 1, 1844 |
| Predecessor2: | William Douglas |
| Successor2: | William Skinner |
| State Senate3: | Ohio |
| District3: | 19th |
| Term Start3: | January 7, 1856 |
| Term End3: | March 4, 1857 |
| Predecessor3: | Western T. Sinclair |
| Successor3: | M. Morron |
| State Senate4: | Ohio |
| District4: | 19th--> |
| Term Start4: | January 6, 1868 |
| Term End4: | January 2, 1870 |
| Predecessor4: | R. Savage |
| Successor4: | James O. Amos |
| State Senate5: | Ohio |
| District5: | 19th--> |
| Term Start5: | January 4, 1886 |
| Term End5: | January 1, 1888 |
| Predecessor5: | inactive |
| Successor5: | David H. Mortley |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Birth Date: | 2 September 1814 |
| Birth Place: | Old Washington, Ohio |
| Death Place: | Old Washington, Ohio |
| Restingplace: | Washington Cemetery, Old Washington |
| 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]