He succeeded[clarification needed] his father in 1674[1] In 1700, he purchased for £800 the office of gentleman usher of the privy chamber, which had a salary of £200 p.a.
He was knighted on 21 January or 6 February 1701 and was appointed a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber in 1702, retaining the post until 1726.
[2] At the 1705 English general election, Lawrence was returned as Whig Member of Parliament for Stockbridge and voted for the Court candidate for Speaker on 25 October 1705.
He supported the Court with regard to the 'place clause' in the regency bill in February 1706 and acted as teller for the Whigs on occasion.
At the 1708 British general election, he was returned unopposed as Whig MP for Stocksbridge.