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 in 1959.
Lawrence served as a minister in the government of
Jan Smuts
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, (baptismal name Jan Christiaan 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 P ...
before the
National Party National Party or Nationalist Party may refer to:
Active parties
* National Party of Australia, commonly known as ''The Nationals''
* Bangladesh:
** Bangladesh Nationalist Party
** Jatiya Party (Ershad) a.k.a. ''National Party (Ershad)''
* Californ ...
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, Order for Meritorious Service, OMSG, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, DBE (née Gavronsky; 7 November 1917 – 1 January 2009) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and p ...
was not re-elected at the 1961 General Election. He did not return to Parliament but served as temporary Party leader after
Jan Steytler
Johannes "Jan" van Aswegen Steytler (October 26, 1910 – after 1977) was a liberal South African politician and the first leader of the Progressive Party (South Africa), Progressive Party (PP). He was born in Burgersdorp, in the then Cape of Go ...
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 1 ...
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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