Memorable Manitobans: George Lawrence (1857-1924)

George Lawrence Click to enlarge

Implement and grain dealer, MLA (1900-1903), MLA (1903-1907), MLA (1908-1910), MLA (1911-1914), MLA (1914-1915).

Born at Zephar, Ontario on 21 March 1857, son of Noble J. Lawrence and Sarah Lyons, he came to Manitoba in 1878, spent a year at Winnipeg then took up a homestead near Glenora. In 1883 he started an agricultural implements business at Glenora then opened a branch of the business at Killarney. He served as a councillor for the Rural Municipalities of Derby and Argyle.

He retired from business in 1892 and make his first attempt at election to the Manitoba Legislature, being defeated by Finlay M. Young. He was first elected for the Killarney constituency at the 1899 general election. From 1911 to 1915 he was the Minister of Agriculture. In 1904 he married Phoebe Coghlan of Dublin, Ireland. They had a son, Desmond George Lloyd Lawrence. He was a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, the Orange Order, the Black Knights of Ireland, and the Anglican church. He served as president of the Southern Manitoba Agricultural and Arts Association.

The family moved to California around 1923 where his son was to attend college. He died at San Francisco on 25 May 1924. He is commemorated by the Rural Municipality of Lawrence in Manitoba.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Demonstration Farm House (44 Water Street, Killarney)

Sources:

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

“Hon. George Lawrence dies in California,” Manitoba Free Press, 27 May 1924. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B8]

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 24 March 2013

A collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Send corrections and additions to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Suggest a Memorable Manitoban  |  Sources  |  Acknowledgements Support the MHS and