Harry Gordon Lawrence (1901–1973) was a South African politician.
Harry Lawrence was on the liberal wing of the
United Party. He was the most senior of the MPs who broke away and founded the
Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to:
Active parties
* Progressive Party, Brazil
* Progressive Party (Chile)
* Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus
* Dominica Progressive Party
* Progressive Party (Iceland)
* Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...
in 1959.
Lawrence served as a minister in the government of
Jan Smuts
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, (24 May 1870 11 September 1950) was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Af ...
before the
National Party came to power in 1948.
He was Minister of Home Affairs 1939–43 and January–June 1948, as well as Minister of Justice 1945-June 1948.
Lawrence had his spleen damaged when he was attacked by Nationalists at a political meeting during the Second World War. This injury caused Lawrence continuous pain, as he explained when he declined to be considered for the Progressive Party leadership in 1959. He did, however, become the first party chairman of the PP.
Lawrence, like all the Progressive MPs except
Helen Suzman
Helen Suzman, OMSG, DBE (née Gavronsky; 7 November 1917 – 1 January 2009) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician. She represented a series of liberal and centre-left opposition parties during her 36-year tenure in th ...
was not re-elected at the 1961 General Election. He did not return to Parliament but served as temporary Party leader after
Jan Steytler resigned in December 1970, until
Colin Eglin
Colin Wells Eglin (14 April 1925 – 29 November 2013) was a South African politician best known for having served as national leader of the opposition from 1977–79 and 1986–87. He represented Sea Point in the South African Parliament from 19 ...
was elected leader in February 1971.
References
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External links
List of South African Politicians
1901 births
1973 deaths
United Party (South Africa) politicians
White South African people
Progressive Party (South Africa) politicians
Members of the House of Assembly (South Africa)
Justice ministers of South Africa
Ministers of Home Affairs of South Africa
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