William Beach Lawrence
Encyclopedia
William Beach Lawrence was an American
politician and jurist who served as lieutenant governor of Rhode Island
from 1851 to 1852.
Lawrence was born in New York City
to a wealthy family from England
. He graduated from Columbia
in 1818 and was admitted to the bar in 1823. Three years later he was appointed Secretary of Legation for Great Britain
, and was made chargé d'affaires
the year after. When he returned to the United States in 1829 he practiced law with Hamilton Fish
, and worked on the executive committee to promote the building of the Erie Railroad
.
In 1850 Lawrence moved to Rhode Island
and was elected as lieutenant-governor of that state the next year. He then became acting governor in 1852, and served in Rhode Island's constitutional convention
as well. After his time in politics, he wrote essays and books about international law
, and he argued a case before the United States Supreme Court in 1873. He became vice-president of the New York Historical Society in 1836. He died in New York City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and jurist who served as lieutenant governor of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
from 1851 to 1852.
Lawrence was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to a wealthy family from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He graduated from Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1818 and was admitted to the bar in 1823. Three years later he was appointed Secretary of Legation for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and was made chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
the year after. When he returned to the United States in 1829 he practiced law with Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts...
, and worked on the executive committee to promote the building of the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
.
In 1850 Lawrence moved to Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and was elected as lieutenant-governor of that state the next year. He then became acting governor in 1852, and served in Rhode Island's constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
as well. After his time in politics, he wrote essays and books about international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
, and he argued a case before the United States Supreme Court in 1873. He became vice-president of the New York Historical Society in 1836. He died in New York City.
Works
- The Bank of the United States (1831)
- Institutions of the United States (1832)
- Discourses on Political EconomyPolitical economyPolitical economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
(1834) - Biographical Memoir of Albert GallatinAlbert GallatinAbraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin was a Swiss-American ethnologist, linguist, politician, diplomat, congressman, and the longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury. In 1831, he founded the University of the City of New York...
(1843) - The Law of Charitable Uses (1845)
- an annotated edition of Wheaton's Elements of International Law (1855)
- Visitation and Search (1858)
- Commentaire sur les éléments du droit international (four volumes, 1868-80)
- The Treaty of WashingtonTreaty of Washington (1871)The Treaty of Washington was a treaty signed and ratified by Great Britain and the United States in 1871 that settled various disputes between the countries, in particular the Alabama Claims.-Background:...
(1871) - Belligerent and Sovereign Rights as Regards Neutrals During the War of SecessionAmerican Civil WarThe 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...
(1873) - Etudes sur la jurisdiction consulaire et sur l'extradition (1880)