lˈɔːɹəns wʌzðə ɡɹˈændsʌn ʌvðə nˈoʊɾəbəl ˌæbəlˈɪʃənˌɪst ˈeɪmɑːs ˈædəmz lˈɔːɹəns ænd ɐ mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˌɪnfluːˈɛnʃəl bˈɔstən fˈæmɪli, fˈaʊndᵻd baɪ hɪz ɡɹˈeɪtɡɹˈeɪtɡɹˈændfɑːðɚ ænd ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ɹˌɛvəlˈuːʃənˌɛɹi sˈæmjuːl lˈɔːɹəns; hɪz ɡɹˈeɪtɡɹˈændfɑːðɚ wʌzðə nˈoʊɾᵻd fɪlˈænθɹəpˌɪst ˈeɪmɑːs lˈɔːɹəns.
Lawrence was the grandson of the notable abolitionist Amos Adams Lawrence and a member of the influential Boston family, founded by his great-great-grandfather and American revolutionary Samuel Lawrence; his great-grandfather was the noted philanthropist Amos Lawrence.