He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in New York City, Province of New York, from July 4, 1776) from 1772 to 1776.[1]
In 1775, Laurance married Elizabeth McDougall, the daughter of General Alexander McDougall.[3]
Military service
Laurance served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War as a commissioned officer from 1775 to 1782.[1][2] At the outbreak of war in 1775, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the 4th New York Regiment, and took part in the 1775 Invasion of Quebec.[3] In 1776, he received a commission as captain and paymaster of the Continental Army's 1st New York Regiment, serving under his father-in-law Alexander McDougall (sometimes spelled MacDougall).[3]
He was Judge Advocate General from 1777 to 1782.[1][2][4] Among the cases he handled were prosecuting at the court-martial of Charles Lee for insubordination in 1778, and the 1779 court-martial of Benedict Arnold for corruption.[4] He also presided at the trial of Major John André,[2] serving on the 1780 board that convicted the major of spying and sentenced him to death by hanging, and was the board's recorder.[4]
Laurance attained the rank of colonel and resigned his commission in 1782.[4] He was a charter member of the Society of the Cincinnati.[3]
Post-war career
He resumed private practice in New York City from 1782 to 1785.[1] Among Laurance's legal apprentices was Charles Adams, son of President John Adams.[3] He was also active in land speculation and other business ventures with Alexander Hamilton.[3]
He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1788 to 1790.[1] While serving in the State Senate, Laurance was also a member of New York City's Board of Aldermen.[3]
Following his departure from Congress, Laurance resumed private practice in New York City from 1800 to 1810,[1] also residing there until his death.[3] He died on November 11, 1810, in New York City.[1] He was interred at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.[2]
Legacy
After more than two centuries of neglect by historians, the first book-length study of John Laurance was published by the American Philosophical Society in 2019.[5]
^Jones, Keith Marshall, III. John Laurance: The Immigrant Founding Father America Never Knew. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 2019.
Sources
Internet
Bickford, Charlene; et al. (2002). "John Laurance, Representative from New York". Documentary History of the First Federal Congress Project. Columbia, SC: Model Editions Partnership.
The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 62, 113f, 142, 161f and 287; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [gives surname as "Lawrence"]
_1909_19.jpeg)
