Edwin Durning-Lawrence
| Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence, Bt | |
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| Member of Parliament for Truro |
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In office 1895–1906 |
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| Preceded by | John Charles Williams |
| Succeeded by | George Hay Morgan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 February 1837 |
| Died | 21 April 1914 (aged 77) |
| Political party | Liberal Unionist |
| Spouse(s) | Edith Jane Smith |
| Occupation | Politician, author |
| Religion | Unitarianism |
Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence, 1st Baronet (2 February 1837 – 21 April 1914) was a British lawyer and Member of Parliament.
He is best known for his advocacy of the Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship, which asserts that Francis Bacon was the author of Shakespeare's plays. He published a number of books on the subject and promoted public debates with the academic community. At his death he donated the large "Edwin Durning-Lawrence archive" to London University.
He was born Edwin Lawrence, the seventh son and last child of William Lawrence and Jane Clarke. His father, who built up his fortune in construction, held political posts in London. His brothers Sir William Lawrence and Sir James Lawrence were Lord Mayors of London and also members of parliament. His nephew was Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, the suffragette and pacifist MP.
Edwin studied law at London University and was admitted to Middle Temple in 1867 as a barrister. Later in his career he became a Justice of the Peace (as his father had been) in Berkshire. In 1895 he was elected to the House of Commons for the Liberal Unionist Party, becoming a member of parliament for Truro from 1895 to 1906.
He was also a prominent Unitarian. He and his brother James between them donated £5000 – equal to half of the actual building costs – to the fund for the construction of Essex Street Chapel, the headquarters of British Unitarianism.
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