Robert Means Lawrence (May 14, 1847 - March 7, 1935) was an American

physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...

and writer.

Biography

Lawrence was born in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. His parents were William Richards Lawrence and Susan Coombs Dana. His grandfather was Amos Adams Lawrence. He attended

Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is the third oldest medical school in the Un ...

where he received his

M.D. A Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated MD, from the Latin ) is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the ''MD'' denotes a professional degree of physician. This ge ...

in 1873.Lawrence, William. (Oct., 1944 - May, 1947). ''Robert Means Lawrence''. ''

Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history. The Massachusetts Historical Society was established in 1791 and is located at 1154 Boylston Street ...

''. Third Series 68: 451-454. He worked as a physician at the

Boston Dispensary The Boston Dispensary (est.1796) or Boston Medical Dispensary provided for "medical relief of the poor" in Boston, Massachusetts, from the late 18th century through the mid-20th century. It was one of the first hospitals in the United States. In ...

and as an assistant surgeon of the First Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers (1877-1882). He married Katherine Lawrence Cleaveland on June 30, 1870 and lived in

Lexington, Massachusetts Lexington is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located 10 miles (16 km) from Downtown Boston. The population was 34,454 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The area was originally inhabited by ...

. They had two daughters, Madeline and Isabel. He later lived in

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

and then Boston. Lawrence was interested in

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

. He was baptized at Cathedral Church of St. Paul and became a warden of the congregation. He died at his home in Boston on March 7, 1935, and was buried at

Mount Auburn Cemetery Mount Auburn Cemetery, located in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, is the first rural or garden cemetery in the United States. It is the burial site of many prominent Boston Brahmins, and is a National Historic Landmark. Dedicated in ...

Publications

*''Historical Sketches of Some Members of the Lawrence Family'' (1888) *''The Magic of the Horseshoe'' (1898)Newell, W. W. (1898)
''Reviewed Work: The Magic of the Horse-Shoe by Robert Means Lawrence''
''

Journal of American Folklore The ''Journal of American Folklore'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Folklore Society. The journal has been published since the society's founding in 1888. Since 2003, this has been published at the University of I ...

'' 11 (43): 305. *''The Descendants of Major Samuel Lawrence, of Groton, Massachusetts, With Some Mention of Allied Families'' (1904) *''Primitive Therapy and Quackery'' (1910) *''The Reverend Amos Adams, A.M. (1728-1775): Patriot Minister of Roxbury, Massachusetts'' (1912) *''The Site of Saint Paul's Cathedral, Boston, and Its Neighborhood'' (1916) *''Old Park Street and Its Vicinity'' (1922) *''New England Colonial Life'' (1927)

References

External links

* * 1847 births 1935 deaths American genealogists 19th-century American physicians American critics of alternative medicine Harvard Medical School alumni Writers from Boston Historians from Massachusetts Burials at Mount Auburn Cemetery {{physician-stub