George Alfred Lawrence
Encyclopedia
George Alfred Lawrence (25 March 1827 – 23 September 1876) was a British novelist and barrister
.
He was educated at Rugby
and at Balliol College, Oxford
, and in 1851 married Mary Ann Georgiana Kirwan. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
in 1852, but soon abandoned the law for literature.
In 1857 he published, anonymously, his first novel, Guy Livingstone, or Thorough. This gained a great popularity, and he went on to write more novels of a similar type. Lawrence may be regarded as the originator in English fiction of the beau sabreur type of hero, great in sport and love and war.
On the outbreak of the American Civil War
he went to America with the intention of joining the Confederate Army, but was taken prisoner and only released on promising to return to England. He travelled much in later years and died in Edinburgh.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
.
Biography
George Alfred Lawrence was born at Buxted, Sussex, the eldest child of the Revd Alfred Charnley Lawrence, Curate of Uxfield Chapel, Buxted, and the Hon. Lady Emily Mary Finch-Hatton, sister of George William Finch-Hatton, 5th Earl of Nottingham and 10th Earl of Winchilsea.He was educated at Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, and in 1851 married Mary Ann Georgiana Kirwan. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1852, but soon abandoned the law for literature.
In 1857 he published, anonymously, his first novel, Guy Livingstone, or Thorough. This gained a great popularity, and he went on to write more novels of a similar type. Lawrence may be regarded as the originator in English fiction of the beau sabreur type of hero, great in sport and love and war.
On the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he went to America with the intention of joining the Confederate Army, but was taken prisoner and only released on promising to return to England. He travelled much in later years and died in Edinburgh.
Writings
Other works include:- Sword and Gown (1859)
- Barren honour (1862)
- Blanche Ellerslie's ending
- Border and bastille (1863)
- Sans merci; or, Kestrels and falcons (1866)
- Brakespeare; or The fortunes of a free lance (1868)
- Breaking a butterfly (1869)
- Silverland
- Maurice Dering
- Anteros