Amos Lawrence is a member of a leading Boston family which traces its roots in America back to 1635. His cotton mills business is thriving in 1854 when he is outraged by the seizure of a run-away named Anthony Burns who is shipped back to slavery in Virginia. From then on he is an avowed abolitionist who funds the New England Emigrant Society in sending families and Sharps rifles to Kansas to fight for its admission as a Free State. The town of Lawrence (named after him) becomes the Free State headquarters and is sacked by Pro-Slavery forces in 1856. He is Governor of Massachusetts from 1858-60, and raises funds to defend John Brown in 1859, despite disagreeing with his attack. In 1862 he sponsors a Union Cavalry battalion which is with Grant at Appomattox in 1865.
Amos Lawrence
