Abraham Riker Lawrence
Abraham Riker Lawrence was an American lawyer, judge, and historian.
Early life
Abraham was born in New York City on September 19, 1832 and was the namesake of his paternal uncle, Abraham Riker Lawrence, a merchant. He was one of eleven children born to John L. Lawrence and Sarah Augusta Lawrence, née Smith. Among his siblings was Ann Middleton Suydam, née Lawrence who married John Richard Suydam, a merchant and "gentleman well-known in New-York society for his genial and hospitably qualities" ; Richard Montgomery Lawrence; and Charles William Lawrence.His father was a New York State Senator, Comptroller of New York City and diplomat, who served as chargé d'Affaires at Stockholm during the absence of U.S. Minister to Sweden Jonathan Russell.
His paternal grandparents were Jonathan Lawrence, a merchant and New York State Senator, and Ruth Lawrence, a member of the Riker family, for whom Rikers Island is named. Among his extended family were uncles, Congressmen Samuel Lawrence and William T. Lawrence, as well as William Beach Lawrence, the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, and Brigadier General Albert G. Lawrence.
He was also a direct descendant of Capt. James Lawrence, a hero of the War of 1812, and Maj. Thomas Lawrence of the British Army who received a land grant in what became Queens in 1656. His maternal grandparents were Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull, and General John Tangier Smith, a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from New York.
Lawrence was educated at private schools and then attended and graduated from State and [National Law School|Ballston Spa Law School] in Ballston Spa, New York.
Career
After being admitted to the bar in 1853, he was appointed and served as Assistant Corporation Counsel of New York City from 1853 to 1856 and from 1857 to 1858. In 1859, Lawrence wrote Compilation of the Tax Laws of the State of New York, with notes of Cases.In 1867, he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868|Constitutional Convention]. In History of the [New York City Bar Association|1870], he was one of the founders of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, serving as vice-president in 1905 and 1906.
Political career
In 1870, he was a leading member of Apollo Hall, a Democratic reform movement founded by New York State Senator James O'Brien as a response to the corruption of Boss Tweed controlled Tammany Hall.In 1872 [New York state election|1872], Lawrence, then a lawyer doing business at 25 Nassau Street, was selected by both Tammany Hall, even though he had been a vocal opponent of Tammany, and the Greeleyites, as the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City against the O'Brien, the Apollo candidate, and William Frederick Havemeyer, the Republican candidate. Lawrence came in second place, losing to Havemeyer, in what became Havemeyer's third non-consecutive term as mayor.
In 1873, he was elected a justice of the Supreme Court of New York. He was reelected in 1887 and served on the bench for twenty-eight years until December 31, 1901. After his retirement, a dinner was given in his honor at Delmonico's and hosted by John Edward Parsons, president of the Bar Association. From 1911 until his death, he served as the official Referee of the Supreme Court.
Society life
Lawrence was a member of the Union Club, the Century Club and the Manhattan Club. In addition to membership in the Society of Colonial Wars, serving as Chancellor in 1895, and the American Rifle Association, he served two terms as president the List of presidents of the [Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York|25th President] of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York from 1882 to 1883, succeeding Edward Floyd DeLancey. He previously served as fourth vice-president in 1878, second vice-president in 1879, and first vice-president from 1880 to 1881.Personal life
In 1860, Lawrence was married to Elizabeth "Eliza" Williams Miner. Eliza was the only daughter of Dr. William Miner and Julia Caroline Miner. Together, Eliza and Abraham were the parents of:- William Miner Lawrence, a member of the New York State Assembly in 1891 who married Lavinia Oliver.
- Ruth Woodhull Lawrence, who did not marry and who was a founder of the The [National Society of the Colonial Dames of America|National Society of Colonial Dames] in New York in 1893.