William Dawson Lawrence
| William Dawson Lawrence | |
|---|---|
William D. Lawrence – Nova Scotia House of Assembly (1864)
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| Born |
16 July 1817 Lawrencetown, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 8 December 1886 (aged 69) Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia |
| Resting place | Oak Island Cemetery, Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia |
| Occupation | Shipbuilder, Businessman, Politician |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Hayes |
| Parent(s) | William Dawson Lawrence and Mary Jane Lockhart |
William Dawson Lawrence (16 July 1817 – 8 December 1886) was a successful shipbuilder, businessman and politician. He built the William D. Lawrence, which is reported to be the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada.
In 1874, W.D. Lawrence's great ship was reported to have been the largest wooden sailing ship in the world. The William D. Lawrence represents the pinnacle of W.D.’s career as a marine architect, businessman, and politician. He built the ship in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia. The vessel was 263 feet long.
Renowned historian Frederick William Wallace writes,
Lawrence began his ship building career at the John Chappell shipyard in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where he designed his first ship (1849). He also worked at the Alexander Lyle shipyard in Dartmouth. Lawrence also had the opportunity to study in Boston under the great Nova Scotian ship builder Donald McKay.
He returned to Nova Scotia and built two vessels close to his childhood home in Maple Grove, Nova Scotia. Then Lawrence built six more vessels in the William D. Lawrence Shipyard opposite his home in Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia. Lawrence was very successful in business.
The three-year maiden voyage of the William D. Lawrence involved Lawrence being towed from Maitland to Saint John, New Brunswick. Upon the ship being fitted, Lawrence then traveled to Liverpool, England; Aden, British India (present day Yemen); Callao, Peru; Le Havre, France; St. John’s, Newfoundland, and then returned home.
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