WILLIAM LAWRENCE,OHIO,BELLEFONTAINE,1867,Congressman, Andrew Johnson Impeachment

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE,OHIO,BELLEFONTAINE,1867,Congressman, Andrew Johnson Impeachment:
$24.00

William Lawrence, was one of the Members of the House who initiated Impeachment proceedingsagainst President Andrew Johnson in 1867. In the Civil War, he was Colonel of the 84th Ohio infantry.In 1867 he made an inquiry as to setting up a Department of Justice. his ideas were later adoptedand the department was initiated in 1870. He helped set up the Red Cross, and ratified theGeneva Convention. bio. below.5\" x 2 3/8\" excellent matting signature.
\"Autograph of Wm Lawrence Bellefontaine Ohio 27 Feb 1867\"
very fine, quality paper.
This was taken from an autograph book collected in 1867 by a visitorto Washington D.C.... of Senators and Congressmen.add $2.00 for 1st class/Insured to U.S....William Lawrence (Ohio Republican)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWilliam LawrenceMember of theU.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio\'s4thdistrictIn office
March 4, 1865– March 3, 1871Preceded byJohn Franklin McKinneySucceeded byJohn Franklin McKinneyMember of theU.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio\'s8thdistrictIn office
March 4, 1873– March 3, 1877Preceded byJohn BeattySucceeded byJ. Warren KeiferMember of theOhio House of RepresentativesfromHardin CountyandLogan CountyIn office
December 7, 1846 – December 3, 1848Preceded byRichard S. CanbySucceeded bySamuel WattMember of theOhio SenatefromLogan Countyand other countiesIn office
December 3, 1849 – January 4, 1852Preceded byJoshua JudySucceeded byJohn J. WilliamsMember of theOhio Senatefrom the 13th districtIn office
January 2, 1854 – January 6, 1856Preceded byJohn J. WilliamsSucceeded byCornelius S. HamiltonPersonal detailsBornJune 26, 1819
Mount Pleasant, Ohio, U.S.DiedMay 8, 1899(aged79)
Kenton, Ohio, U.S.Resting placeBellefontaine Cemetery,Bellefontaine, Ohio, U.S.Political partyRepublicanAlma materFranklin College
Cincinnati Law SchoolSignature

William Lawrence(June 26, 1819 – May 8, 1899) was aRepublicanpolitician fromOhio. He was most noted for being aUS Representative, and was influential in attempting to impeachAndrew Johnson, creating theUnited States Department of Justice, helping to create theAmerican Red Cross, and ratifying theGeneva Convention.

Early life and education

Lawrence was born on June 26, 1819 inMount Pleasant, Ohio. He attended Tidball\'s Academy inKnoxville, Tennessee. After teaching atPennsvilleandMcConnelsville, Ohio, he was graduated in 1838 fromFranklin CollegeinNew Athens, Ohio. He was then graduated in 1840 fromlaw schoolat theUniversity of Cincinnati, and was admitted to the bar.[1]In 1873, Lawrence was awarded theLL. D.from Franklin College.[2]

CareerLawrence\'s house in Bellefontaine, now listed on theNational Register of Historic Places

In 1841, Lawrence moved toBellefontaine, Ohio, and there set up hislaw practice.[1]From July 15, 1841 to July 15, 1843 he was law partner ofBenjamin Stanton, and from July, 1851 to February, 1854 with his law studentWilliam H. West.[3]From 1841 to 1843, he continued his studies, then in the field ofmedicine. In 1842, he became the Commissioner ofBankruptcyforLogan County.[4]

From 1845 to 1847, Lawrence served as the editor of theLogan Gazette, which later became theBellefontaine Examiner. During this time, Lawrence was elected as the Logan County Prosecutor (in 1845). He also served as a member of theOhio House of Representatives, in 1846 and 1847. In 1849, Lawrence was first elected to theOhio Senate, serving until 1851 when he became the reporter of theOhio Supreme Court. He returned to the Ohio Senate in 1854. He also served as an editor ofWestern Law Monthlyfrom 1859 to 1862.[1][2]In 1860 or 1861, Lawrence built a house along North Main Street in Bellefontaine; today, theWilliam Lawrence Houseremains largely intact and is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[5]

Civil War

In 1857, Lawrence was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and of the District Court, serving until he resigned in 1864. In 1862, he entered theUnion Armyascolonelof the84th Ohio Infantry, a three-month regiment. In 1863, Lawrence was appointed to serve as the wartime judge for theUnited States district courtinFlorida; however, he declined the appointment.[2]

Congressman and national political figure

On March 4, 1865, William Lawrence was inaugurated as theU.S. Representativefor the 4th district ofOhio, having been elected to this office the previous November. He supported the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment, stating in an 1866 speech that it would \"protect every citizen, including the millions of people of foreign birth who will flock to our shores to become citizens and to find here a land of liberty and law.\"[6]

Lawrence served in theThirty-ninth,Fortieth, andForty-firstCongresses, ending his third term on March 3, 1871.[1]As Representative, Lawrence was among the authors of the bill ofimpeachmentagainstU.S. PresidentAndrew Johnsonin 1868.[7]

Created the Department of Justice

In 1867, as a member of theHouse Judiciary Committee, Lawrence directed an inquiry into the creation of a \"law department\" headed by theAttorney Generaland composed of the various department solicitors and district attorneys. On February 19, 1868, Lawrence authored the bill that ultimately created theUnited States Department of Justice. However, this first bill died in Congress due to the Congress\'s (and Lawrence\'s) concern with the impeachment of President Johnson.

In the following Congress, the issue was brought back to the table. RepresentativeThomas JenckesofRhode Islandintroduced a bill to create the Department of Justice on February 25, 1870. Though Lawrence did not write this bill, it incorporated many of the ideas from Lawrence\'s previous bill, and he gave the bill his full support. On June 22, 1870, PresidentUlysses Grantsigned this second bill into law, creating the Department of Justice.[8]

To Bellefontaine, and back to Washington

Returning to Bellefontaine in 1871, Lawrence founded the Bellefontaine National Bank[1](acquired byHuntington National Bankin 1977[9]), and served as its first president. He returned to Congress in 1873, this time from the 8th Ohio Congressional district. Lawrence served in and completed his fifth and final term on March 3, 1877. During this service, Lawrence was the chairman of the Committee on War Claims arising from theAmerican Civil War.[1]

The American Red Cross and the Geneva Convention

Lawrence was appointed by PresidentRutherford B Hayesin 1880 to serve as theFirst Comptroller of the Treasury, a post he held until 1885. Lawrence then appealed on behalf ofClara Bartonto Hayes\' successor,James Garfield, to support the creation of theAmerican Red Crosson May 21, 1881. He then served as the organization\'s first Vice President.[4][10]Lawrence and Barton were also instrumental in persuading theUnited Statesto ratify theGeneva Conventionin 1882.

In 1891, Lawrence was appointed President of the National Wool Growers Association. He died on May 8, 1899 inKenton, Ohio. Lawrence is interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery in Bellefontaine, Ohio.[1]The small Ohio community of Lawrenceville is named for him.