Founded in 1697 as Maidenhead, the Township of Lawrence was renamed in 1816 in honor of naval hero Capt. James Lawrence, who commanded the frigate Chesapeake during the War of 1812. Situated in the heart of Mercer County, the township has served as a stopping point along several transportation routes, including road, rail, and canal, linking New York and Philadelphia. During the 1800s, the town saw the construction of the Delaware and Raritan Canal...