Sir Walter Roper Lawrence, 1st Baronet, GCIE GCVO CB[1] (9 February 1857 – 25 May 1940), was a member of the Council of India[2] and an English author who served in the Indian Civil Service in British India and wrote travelogues based on his experiences of travelling around the Indian Subcontinent.

Over the course of his travels, he developed a close affinity with the Indian and Kashmiri people, who figure prominently in his work.

[3] He was appointed as the Settlement Commissioner for Jammu and Kashmir between 1889–1894, during the rule of Maharaja Pratap Singh.

[4] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in 1891, and promoted Knight Commander (KCIE) in the 1903 Durbar Honours.

[6][7] Sir Walter Lawrence then accompanied the Prince and Princess of Wales to India as Chief of Staff on their tour in 1905-06.