Basic Biographical Details

Name: Charles Alexander Lawrence
Designation:  
Born: 1873
Died: 30 January 1933
Bio Notes: Charles Alexander Lawrence was born in 1873, educated at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen, and articled to Jenkins & Marr, Aberdeen, from 1890 to 1895. He emigrated to New Zealand in the latter year to work for the Scottish architect Thomas Turnbull in Wellington, with whom he remained for two-and-a-half years. He then worked for the New Zealand Public Works Department for ten years, leaving to join the firm of Blake & Penty in Wellington as an assistant in 1907. He was taken into partnership the following year. When Blake dissolved the partnership in 1910, Penty and Lawrence continued to work as partners. On Penty's death, A B Hamilton was taken into partnership but shortly thereafter, in 1920, the practice was merged with that of Swan & Swan, the practice thereafter becoming Swan, Lawrence & Swan, Wellington.

Lawrence was admitted LRIBA in 1911, his proposers being James Hector McKay, John Campbell of the Public Works Department, and Frederick de Jersey Clere, all of Wellington. Although he had been Honorary Secretary of the Wellington District Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and its chairman in 1917-1918, and was to become President of the Institute in 1918, he did not seek to become Fellow. He took a keen interest in church and masonic affairs and in sport. He died on 30 January 1933.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1873(?)1895 
Item 2 of 2Australasia Chambers, Customhouse Quay, Wellington, New ZealandPrivate/business1911 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6Jenkins & Marr18901895Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Thomas Turnbull & Son1895c. 1897Assistant 
Item 3 of 6Blake & Penty19071908Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Blake & Penty19081910Partner 
Item 5 of 6Penty & Lawrence19101920(?)Partner 
Item 6 of 6Swan, Lawrence & Swan1920Before 1933Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Campbell1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Frederick de Jersey Clere1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3James Hector (or Hill) McKay1911for Licentiateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal25 November 1933v41London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp100 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v19 no1401