Captain James Lawrence

"Don't give up the ship!"

The City of Lawrenceville, known as the Crepe Myrtle City, is the county seat of Gwinnett County and was incorporated on December 15, 1821.  This makes it the second oldest city in the Atlanta area.

The City of Lawrenceville is named after Captain James Lawrence.  Captain Lawrence was the Commander of the Frigate Chesapeake during the war of 1812.  The Chesapeake and the H.M.S. Shannon were engaged in a battle off the coast of Boston,  during which Captain Lawrence was mortally wounded.  As he lay wounded, he gave his men the battle cry, "Don't give up the ship!"  Those words impressed resident William Maltbie so much that he suggested naming the city in Captain Lawrence's honor.  The suggestion was adopted and the city became known as Lawrenceville.