William Dawson Lawrence
Encyclopedia
William Dawson Lawrence was a successful shipbuilder, businessman and politician. He built the William D. Lawrence
, which is reported to be the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada.
Lawrence was born in Lawrencetown
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
. In 1874, W.D. Lawrence's great ship was reported to have been the largest wooden sailing ship in the world. The vessel is reported to be the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada. The William D. Lawrence represents the pinnacle of W.D.’s career as a marine architect, businessman, and politician. He built the ship in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
. The vessel was 263 feet long.
Renown historian Frederick William Wallace
writes,
Lawrence also was successfully elected to campaign against Nova Scotia joining Confederation when he ran for the Anti-Confederation Party
(1867).
Lawrence died in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
at the age of 69.
, where he designed his first ship (1849). He also worked at the Alexander Lyle shipyard in Dartmouth. Lawrence also had the opportunity to study in Boston under the great Nova Scotian ship builder Donald McKay
.
He returned to Nova Scotia and built two vessels close to his childhood home in Maple Grove, Nova Scotia
. Then Lawrence built six more vessels opposite his home in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
. Lawrence was very successful in business.
The three-year maiden voyage of the William D. Lawrence involved Lawrence being towed from Maitland to Saint John, New Brunswick
. Upon the ship being fitted, Lawrence then traveled to Liverpool, England; Aden
, British India (present day Yemen
); Callao, Peru; Le Havre
, France
; Saint John’s, Newfoundland
, and then returned home. While in France, Lawrence successfully sued in French supreme court those who owed him money from an unexpected delay in Peru.
During his voyage he recorded the life of sailors at sea and in port. While at sea, Lawrence records events such as catching a shark. In terms of a sailors life in port, he recorded a significant amount of their lives being intimately linked with sex trade workers. Lawrence makes significant observations about the plight of women around the world.
W.D. built eight vessels which were very profitable for him. The two last vessels he built, the Pegusus (1867) and the William D. Lawrence (1874) were the most profitable. From the first four years at sea, W.D. earned from the Pegusus a profit of $1.4 million. From the first three years at sea, W.D. earned from the William D. Lawrence a profit of $1 million. After profiting from the vessel for five more years, W.D. sold the William D. Lawrence for $2.4 million.
in 1863. He represented Hants County, Nova Scotia
– North. He was elected on a platform that gave the right for every Nova Scotian to vote, not just property owners. Lawrence was also a great supporter of public education and saw it as a foundation for a healthy democracy. He joined Joseph Howe
and the Anti-Confederation Party
in fighting Charles Tupper
’s campaign to have Nova Scotia join Confederation. While confederation was passed on July 1, 1867, Lawrence, along with most other “Anti-Confederate” campaigners, was successful in the election of September 1867
in defeating the pro-Confederates. Joseph Howe also won his election as the federal representative for Hants County. Eventually, Joseph Howe left the Anti-Confederation campaign and ran successfully in a bi-election in Hants (1869). The following provincial election, Lawrence continued to support the Anti-Confederation campaign and lost the election (1871). Lawrence retired for seven years from politics to build the William D. Lawrence. He again tried to run for the nomination of the liberal party seven years later but was defeated (1878).
in the winter months. In Lawrence’s unpublished manuscript he also writes extensively about prostitution; differences among races of people; the supremacy of Christianity; the triumph of democracy over tyranny; and the success of capitalism. Lawrence’s ideas about prostitution were largely influenced by Dr. William Sanger, one of the foremost researchers on prostitution during the Victorian Age. In Lawrence's travel writings he also wrote about visiting his birth place of Lawrencetown, County Down
, Ireland
as well as hearing a sermon given by the famous Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He also writes about being mortified by a bull fight that he saw in Peru
and enjoying the Masquerade ball
he attended while in Paris.
(located on Hollis Street, directly across from Province House (Nova Scotia)
). A monument dedicated to Lawrence's ship as a national historic treasure was erected on the grounds of his home (1967) and his home became a provincial museum site opening to the public on August 11, 1971. The ship has also been commemorated by the Canada Post with a postage stamp (1975) and the Royal Canadian Mint
with a coin (2002). There are numerous ship portraits of the vessel. One portrait by E. Petit hangs in Government House (Nova Scotia)
. The most famous portrait is by Edouard-Marie Adam and belongs to the Musée national de la Marine
, Paris, France.
William D. Lawrence (ship)
William D. Lawrence was a full-rigged sailing ship built in Maitland, Nova Scotia along the Minas Basin and named after her builder, the merchant and politician William Dawson Lawrence ....
, which is reported to be the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada.
Lawrence was born in Lawrencetown
Lawrencetown, County Down
Lawrencetown or Laurencetown is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits on the River Bann, along the main road between the towns of Banbridge and Portadown. It is within the parish of Tullylish and covers the townlands of Knocknagore and Drumnascamph. In the 2001 Census it had a...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In 1874, W.D. Lawrence's great ship was reported to have been the largest wooden sailing ship in the world. The vessel is reported to be the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada. The William D. Lawrence represents the pinnacle of W.D.’s career as a marine architect, businessman, and politician. He built the ship in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, East Hants, Nova Scotia is a village in the East Hants, Nova Scotia municipal district, and home to the historic Lawrence House Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum...
. The vessel was 263 feet long.
Renown historian Frederick William Wallace
Frederick William Wallace
Frederick William Wallace was a journalist, photographer, historian and novelist. He was the author of Wooden Ships and Iron Men, a now-classic 1924 book about the last days of the Age of Sail in Maritime Canada...
writes,
- “It was a memorable event in Canadian ship-building annals when his big ship took the water, and had it been elsewhere but in a quiet little Nova Scotia town on the banks of the Shubenacadie RiverShubenacadie RiverThe Shubenacadie River is a river in Nova Scotia, Canada.It has a meander length of approximately 72 km from its source at Shubenacadie Grand Lake to its mouth at the historic seaport village of Maitland on Cobequid Bay, site of the building of the William D. Lawrence, the largest wooden ship ever...
, there would have been a great furor, and Lawrence’s genius and skill would have been proclaimed to the four corners of the earth.”
Lawrence also was successfully elected to campaign against Nova Scotia joining Confederation when he ran for the Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now Atlantic Canada by several parties opposed to Canadian confederation.-Nova Scotia:In Nova Scotia, the "Anti-Confederates" were led by Joseph Howe. They attempted to reverse the colony's decision to join Confederation, which was initially highly...
(1867).
Lawrence died in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, East Hants, Nova Scotia is a village in the East Hants, Nova Scotia municipal district, and home to the historic Lawrence House Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum...
at the age of 69.
Ship builder
Lawrence began his ship building career at the John Chappell shipyard in Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaDartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
, where he designed his first ship (1849). He also worked at the Alexander Lyle shipyard in Dartmouth. Lawrence also had the opportunity to study in Boston under the great Nova Scotian ship builder Donald McKay
Donald McKay
Donald McKay was a Canadian-born American designer and builder of sailing ships.He was born in Jordan Falls, Shelburne County on Nova Scotia's South Shore. In 1826 he moved to New York, working for shipbuilders Brown & Bell and Isaac Webb...
.
He returned to Nova Scotia and built two vessels close to his childhood home in Maple Grove, Nova Scotia
Maple Grove, Nova Scotia
Maple Grove is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants in Hants County.-References:*...
. Then Lawrence built six more vessels opposite his home in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Maitland, East Hants, Nova Scotia is a village in the East Hants, Nova Scotia municipal district, and home to the historic Lawrence House Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum...
. Lawrence was very successful in business.
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
. Upon the ship being fitted, Lawrence then traveled to Liverpool, England; Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
, British India (present day Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
); Callao, Peru; Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; Saint John’s, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, and then returned home. While in France, Lawrence successfully sued in French supreme court those who owed him money from an unexpected delay in Peru.
During his voyage he recorded the life of sailors at sea and in port. While at sea, Lawrence records events such as catching a shark. In terms of a sailors life in port, he recorded a significant amount of their lives being intimately linked with sex trade workers. Lawrence makes significant observations about the plight of women around the world.
W.D. built eight vessels which were very profitable for him. The two last vessels he built, the Pegusus (1867) and the William D. Lawrence (1874) were the most profitable. From the first four years at sea, W.D. earned from the Pegusus a profit of $1.4 million. From the first three years at sea, W.D. earned from the William D. Lawrence a profit of $1 million. After profiting from the vessel for five more years, W.D. sold the William D. Lawrence for $2.4 million.
Politician
William D. Lawrence was elected to the 23rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia23rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia
The 24th General Assembly of Nova Scotia represented Nova Scotia between 1867 and 1871.John J. Marshall was chosen as speaker for the house. Jared C. Troop was named speaker in February 1870 after Marshall's death....
in 1863. He represented Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia which was the home of Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Alden Nowlan and Noel Doiron. The county of Hants was created June 17, 1781, and consisted of the townships of Windsor, Falmouth and Newport...
– North. He was elected on a platform that gave the right for every Nova Scotian to vote, not just property owners. Lawrence was also a great supporter of public education and saw it as a foundation for a healthy democracy. He joined Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
and the Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now Atlantic Canada by several parties opposed to Canadian confederation.-Nova Scotia:In Nova Scotia, the "Anti-Confederates" were led by Joseph Howe. They attempted to reverse the colony's decision to join Confederation, which was initially highly...
in fighting Charles Tupper
Charles Tupper
Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC was a Canadian father of Confederation: as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, he led Nova Scotia into Confederation. He later went on to serve as the sixth Prime Minister of Canada, sworn in to office on May 1, 1896, seven days after...
’s campaign to have Nova Scotia join Confederation. While confederation was passed on July 1, 1867, Lawrence, along with most other “Anti-Confederate” campaigners, was successful in the election of September 1867
24th General Assembly of Nova Scotia
The 25th General Assembly of Nova Scotia represented Nova Scotia between 1871 and 1874.Jared C. Troop was chosen as speaker for the house.The assembly was dissolved on November 23, 1874.- List of Members :Notes:...
in defeating the pro-Confederates. Joseph Howe also won his election as the federal representative for Hants County. Eventually, Joseph Howe left the Anti-Confederation campaign and ran successfully in a bi-election in Hants (1869). The following provincial election, Lawrence continued to support the Anti-Confederation campaign and lost the election (1871). Lawrence retired for seven years from politics to build the William D. Lawrence. He again tried to run for the nomination of the liberal party seven years later but was defeated (1878).
Writer
Along with writing about the maiden voyage of the William D. Lawrence, he also published articles in the provincial papers on the opposition he experienced in building the ship, capitalism and labour, and his trips to BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in the winter months. In Lawrence’s unpublished manuscript he also writes extensively about prostitution; differences among races of people; the supremacy of Christianity; the triumph of democracy over tyranny; and the success of capitalism. Lawrence’s ideas about prostitution were largely influenced by Dr. William Sanger, one of the foremost researchers on prostitution during the Victorian Age. In Lawrence's travel writings he also wrote about visiting his birth place of Lawrencetown, County Down
Lawrencetown, County Down
Lawrencetown or Laurencetown is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits on the River Bann, along the main road between the towns of Banbridge and Portadown. It is within the parish of Tullylish and covers the townlands of Knocknagore and Drumnascamph. In the 2001 Census it had a...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as well as hearing a sermon given by the famous Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He also writes about being mortified by a bull fight that he saw in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and enjoying the Masquerade ball
Masquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
he attended while in Paris.
Commemorations
In 1930, William D. Lawrence and his great ship were commemorated by the Bank of Nova Scotia, which placed a stone carving of the ship above the door of the head office building in Halifax, Nova ScotiaCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
(located on Hollis Street, directly across from Province House (Nova Scotia)
Province House (Nova Scotia)
Province House is where the Nova Scotia Legislature, known officially as the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, has met every year since 1819. The building is Canada's oldest house of government...
). A monument dedicated to Lawrence's ship as a national historic treasure was erected on the grounds of his home (1967) and his home became a provincial museum site opening to the public on August 11, 1971. The ship has also been commemorated by the Canada Post with a postage stamp (1975) and the Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
with a coin (2002). There are numerous ship portraits of the vessel. One portrait by E. Petit hangs in Government House (Nova Scotia)
Government House (Nova Scotia)
Government House of Nova Scotia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, as well as that in Halifax of the Canadian monarch...
. The most famous portrait is by Edouard-Marie Adam and belongs to the Musée national de la Marine
Musée national de la Marine
The Musée national de la Marine is a maritime museum located in the Palais de Chaillot, Trocadéro, in the XVIe arrondissement of Paris. It has annexes at Brest, Port-Louis, Rochefort , Toulon and Saint-Tropez...
, Paris, France.