She was commissioned in early August 1813, named in honor of Captain James Lawrence who had died June 4, 1813, in a famous battle with HMS Shannon.

During the 10 September 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, Lawrence served as flagship for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry until she was disabled by British fire.

The British never took physical possession of the surrendered Lawrence and so Perry automatically regained the ship at the end of the battle with no recapturing action needed.

In mid-1815, following the end of hostilities, Lawrence was sunk in Misery Bay on Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, in order to preserve her hull.

[1][2] However, in December 1876, after the exposition closed for good, the ornate pavilion at the showgrounds caught fire and the exhibit was reduced to ashes.