Lawrence Townsend (August 13, 1860 – March 8, 1954) was an American diplomat and later in life, after his retirement from government service, a business executive in Washington, DC.

He withdrew from the university at the end of his junior year and went west to Plateau, Colorado, where he owned a large ranch (1881–1886).

Returning to Pennsylvania, he married composer Natalie Hannau of Philadelphia on March 8, 1886, and they had three children: Yvonne, Lawrence Jr., and Reginald.

He published numerous translations of French and German articles in his area of specialization.

He served as First Secretary of the U.S. Legation in Vienna from 1893–97 and from there was promoted to the post of U.S. Minister to Portugal on June 9, 1897.