John W. Lawson

John Williams Lawson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by	George E. Bowden
Succeeded by	D. Gardiner Tyler
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Isle of Wight County
In office 1884–1885
Preceded by	Irvin W. Duck[1]
Succeeded by	James Chalmers
In office 1869–1873
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	George Jordan
Member of the Virginia Senate from Isle of Wight, Nansemond and Southampton Counties
In office 1874–1877
Preceded by	Samuel Boykin
Succeeded by	Kenneth Griffin
Personal details
Born	September 13, 1837 James City County, Virginia
Died	February 21, 1905 (aged 67) Smithfield, Virginia
Resting place	Ivy Hill Cemetery, Smithfield, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	College of William and Mary University of Virginia University of the City of New York
Profession	physician, farmer
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Surgeon
Unit	32nd Virginia Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles/wars	American Civil War

John William Lawson (September 13, 1837 – February 21, 1905) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.

Biography

Born in James City County, Virginia, Lawson attended the schools of Williamsburg, College of William and Mary, and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. He studied medicine. He was graduated from the University of the City of New York, March 4, 1861. He returned to Virginia, and during the Civil War enlisted in the Thirty-second Regiment of Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army. He served as assistant surgeon in charge of Artillery battalion. He was promoted to surgeon March 10, 1864, and served until the surrender at Appomattox April 9, 1865. He settled in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, December 1865. Practiced medicine for ten years, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as member of the State house of delegates in 1869–1873. He served in the State senate in 1874–1877. He was again a member of the State house of delegates in 1883 and 1884.

Lawson was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second Congress (March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892. He resumed farming. He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1901 and 1902. He died in Smithfield, Virginia, on February 21, 1905. He was interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery.

Electoral history

1890; Lawson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives defeating Republican George Edwin Bowden and Independent Republican C.W. Murdaugh, winning 50.71% of the vote.

Sources

1. "Section 9 - Members of the House of Delegates" Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Commonwealth of Virginia. Pg.287. 1882.

• United States Congress. "John W. Lawson (id: L000145)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.