William Lawrence or Laurence (c. 1723–1798) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons on three occasions between 1761 and 1798.
Lawrence was the second son of Captain Thomas Laurence RN and his wife Elizabeth Soulden, daughter of Gabriel Soulden, merchant, of Kinsale, county Cork.
[1] Lawrence was returned as Member of Parliament for Ripon in the 1761 general election on his father-in-law's interest.
In 1768, Charles Allanson (Aislabie's other son-in law) was returned at Ripon instead and Lawrence did not stand for Parliament again until he was returned at a by-election 30 October 1775 after Allanson died.
However Aislabie died in the following year and Lawrence, having gained control of the borough, took his empty seat at Ripon in a by-election on 5 June 1781.