Amos Adams Lawrence

Amos Adams Lawrence ( born July 31, 1814 Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, † August 22 1886 in Nahant, Massachusetts ) was an entrepreneur in the textile sector, patron of various universities and supporters of abolitionism. The city of Lawrence, Kansas is named after him. His father, Amos Lawrence had become rich as an entrepreneur, especially with textile mills and had donated a large part of its assets in universities. The uncle Abbott Lawrence had founded the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Businessman and patron

Amos Adams Lawrence studied at Harvard University until 1835, after which his father worked in the textile industry in Lowell and founded his own company in 1837 in Boston. Throughout his career he has held numerous management positions in other companies. He conducted a welfare society for young men in Massachusetts, where he supported a hospital financially. In 1847 he founded the Lawrence University in Wisconsin. This was the beginning of an extensive commitment to educational institutions: In the following decades, Lawrence financed the founding of the University of Kansas and donated among other things, to Harvard University, the Groton School, Lawrence Academy and the Episcopal Divinity School. The latter is a school of the Episcopal Church, whose member Amos Adams Lawrence was.

Abolitionist

Lawrence was treasurer of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, the enemy slavery settlers in Kansas Territory settled, there founded the city of Lawrence and named after Amos Adams Lawrence. In Kansas Territory of abolitionist John Brown was active, the Amos Adams Lawrence supported. He rejected the violence from Browns, but continued after the capture of Brown by the U.S. Army for due process for a Brown. Lawrence also supported the settlement of freed slaves in the African Liberia.