Joseph Lawrence (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lawrence was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
) 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.
from 1818 to 1824 and served as speaker from 1820 to 1824. 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). On December 3, 1822, he was elected speaker with a vote of 65 (other votes were John Gilmore – 23 and Jacob Holgate – 8). In the general election of 1820, he received 3,083 votes.
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. He served as state treasurer 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.
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.
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early life
Joseph Lawrence (father of George Van Eman LawrenceGeorge Van Eman Lawrence
George Van Eman Lawrence was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania....
) was born near Hunterstown, Pennsylvania
Hunterstown, Pennsylvania
Hunterstown is an unincorporated community in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States....
. He moved with his widowed mother to a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, 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 RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
from 1818 to 1824 and served as speaker from 1820 to 1824. 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
Phineas Jenks
Phineas Jenks was a medical doctor and a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He lived in Newtown. He married Amelia Snyder , daughter of Pennsylvania Governor Simon Snyder, in 1820, in Harrisburg.-Medical Doctor:Jenks studied medicine with Dr...
– 21, Rees Hill – 14, Wilson Smith – 1, William Lehman – 1). On December 3, 1822, he was elected speaker with a vote of 65 (other votes were John Gilmore – 23 and Jacob Holgate – 8). In the general election of 1820, he received 3,083 votes.
United States Congress
He was elected as an Adams candidate to the Nineteenth19th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: John Gaillard , until December 4, 1825** Nathaniel Macon , from May 20, 1826- House of Representatives :* Speaker: John W. Taylor -Members:...
and Twentieth
20th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1828
United States House election, 1828
The U.S. House election, 1828 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1828.In 1828, the newly formed Democratic Party soundly took control of the presidency, with Andrew Jackson's victory, and greatly increased their majority in Congress...
to the Twenty-first
21st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress. He was again a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1834 to 1836. He was nominated for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1836, along with future President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
and others. He served as state treasurer in 1837. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1838
United States House election, 1838
The U.S. House election, 1838 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1838.The Panic of 1837 set the background for this election cycle, as the carryover effects of the economic downturn led to Whig gains. President Martin Van Buren was deeply unpopular and Whig ideas for...
to the Twenty-sixth
26th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :*President: Richard M. Johnson *President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :*Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress. He was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the Twenty-seventh
27th United States Congress
The Twenty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843, during the one-month...
Congress and served until his death in Washington, D.C. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Roads and Canals
United States House Committee on Roads and Canals
The United States House Committee on Roads and Canals was a U.S. House committee, which was initially established as a select committee in 1815 and subsequently became a standing committee between 1831 and 1869. Roads and canals were an initial and integral sector of domestic improvements for...
during the Twenty-seventh Congress.
Other political activities
Lawrence served as chairman of the Democratic convention of PA state legislators in 1824. At the Whig Convention at Wheeling (in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
at the time but now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) in 1840, Lawrence was president of the Pennsylvania delegation. He individually introduced all the soldiers who fought in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
who were present at the convention.
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.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. Lawrence is interred in the Congressional CemeteryCongressional Cemetery
The Congressional Cemetery is a historic cemetery located at 1801 E Street, SE, in Washington, D.C., on the west bank of the Anacostia River. It is the final resting place of thousands of individuals who helped form the nation and the city of Washington in the early 19th century. Many members of...
.