lˈɔːɹəns wʌzðə sˈʌn ʌvðə nˈoʊɾəbəl tˈɛkstaɪl ɪndˈʌstɹɪəlˌɪst ˈeɪmɑːs ˈædəmz lˈɔːɹəns ænd ɐ mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˌɪnfluːˈɛnʃəl bˈɔstən fˈæmɪli, fˈaʊndᵻd baɪ hɪz ɡɹˈeɪtɡɹˈændfɑːðɚ ænd ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ɹˌɛvəlˈuːʃənˌɛɹi, sˈæmjuːl lˈɔːɹəns.
Lawrence was the son of the notable textile industrialist Amos Adams Lawrence and a member of the influential Boston family, founded by his great-grandfather and American revolutionary, Samuel Lawrence.