William Lawrence (September 2, 1814 – September 8, 1895) was a state legislator and one-term member of the United States House of Representatives from the 17th District of Ohio, serving from 1857 to 1859.

Lawrence was born in Washington, Guernsey County, Ohio.

After farming for a few years, Lawrence was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1843.

He was a Presidential elector in 1848 for Secretary of State Lewis Cass, and Congressman William Orlando Butler.

On March 4, 1857, William Lawrence (D) was sworn-in as the Representative from the 17th Congressional District of Ohio to the 35th U.S. Congress.