About
British soldier, explorer, and politician who pioneered the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by British colonists in 1813 after migrating to Sydney, New South Wales, in 1800. The town of Lawson in the Blue Mountains was named after him, and he made the first discovery of coal west of the mountains. He was elected to be a member of the first Legislative Council of New South Wales in 1843.
Before Fame
He trained as a surveyor and was educated in London. He joined the British Army in 1799.
Trivia
The route he traveled with William Wentworth and Gregory Blaxland during their crossing of the Blue Mountains is the same route travelers use today. The three were honored in 1963 on a postage stamp issued by Australia Post depicting the crossing. At one point, he was one of the highest profile colonists.
Family Life
He was born and raised in Finchley, Middlesex, England to John Lawson and Hannah Summers. He and his wife Sarah had eleven children.
Associated With
He was the Commandant at the Newcastle convict colony before being displaced by Governor Lachlan MacQuarie in 1809.
