LAWRENCE. Sir Henry Lawrence, an officer of the Bengal army who was employed in 1842 as Political Agent, in 1853 as Resident at Ajmir, in 1857 as Resident at Oudh. lie was besieged in Lucknow during the mutiny, was defeated at Chinhut 30th June 1857, and on the 4th July he died from a gunshot wound. The Lawrence Asylums, a series of educational institutions for European children, were endowed by him.
John Laird '.flair Lawrence, Baron lawrence, a Bengal civil servant who rose to be Governor General and Viceroy of India. Ile was Chief Commissioner in the Paujab during the revolt and rebellion of 1857. By his energy he saved the Panjab, and contributed materially to up hold British supremacy in India. He had, in 1856, been created a K.C.B. for his work in the Panjab, in 1857 he was promoted to the dignity of G.C.B. for his services on the outbreak of the mutiny. In 1858 be was further honoured by being created a baronet and a member of the Privy Council, and on the institution of the Order of the Star of India was created a K.C.S.I. The Court of Directors of the East India Company granted him a life pension of £2000 a year, which, under a special Act of Parliament, he continued to enjoy. together with his full salary, when he became Viceroy of India. He succeeded Lord Elgin in that post, 12th January 1864, and held it for the usual period of five years. In April 1869 he was created Baron Lawrence of the Panjab, and of Grately, in the county of South ampton. After his final return from India, on the formation of the London School Board in 1870 he was chosen to be its chairman, and he held the post till November 1873, when he resigned. He opposed the Afghan policy of the Government, which was a distinct departure from that which he had carried out in India, and which had been described by the phrase of ' masterly inactivity.' Born 4th March 1811, died in London 1880.
Lord Canning says, in a minute on the services of officers during the mutiny and rebellion, Of what is due to Sir John Lawrence himself no man is ignorant. Through him Dehli fell, and the
Panjab, no longer a weakness, became a source of strength. But for him, the hold of England over Upper India would have had to be recovered at a cost of English blood and treasure which defies calculation. It is difficult to exaggerate the value of such ability, vigilance, and energy at such a time.' Major Lawrence, an officer of the English East India Company, who from the year 1746 was engaged in the wars in support of the claims of Anwar-ud-Din Khan to the musnud of the Carnatic, against Dupleix, who supported Mnzaffar Jaug. He was in Fort St. David in June 1748, when he successfully opposed an attempt by Dupleix to take Cuddalore ; but in August he was taken prisoner. The following year, however, he commanded the division sent against Tanjore, and took Devicottah, and returned to Britain in Octo ber 1750. In 1752 he fought along with Clive against the French at Trichinopoly, took Elmi serum, and sent Clive to Samiaveram, and received the surrender of Monsieur Law. In 1752, after the death of Chanda Sahib, the garrison of Ginji surrendered to Major Lawrence without resistance. In September 1752 he marched on Wandiwash, which was ransomed. On the 9th May 1753, the united forces of the French and Mahrattas, who had entrenched themselves on the banks of the Pennar, within sight of Trivady, attacked Lawrence, but were repulsed. They continued to harass the British force until the 1st April, when Lawrence, while marching from Fort St. David to Trivady, was furiously attacked by the Mahrattas, who were with difficulty overcome. A few hours later, when near Trivady, he fell in with the French army, and entirely defeated them. For several mouths in 1754 he bravely defended Trichinopoly against the French, and received the commission of Lieut. Col. of the British army, with a sword from the East India Company, but he felt aggrieved at being superseded by Lieut.-Col. Adlercron to the general command of the British troops in India.—Orme.