William Lawson (explorer)

Commandant William Lawson MLC
ca. 1840s – watercolour on ivory figure
Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales
In office 11 July 1843 (1843-07-11) – 20 June 1848 (1848-06-20)
Personal details
Born	(1774-06-02)2 June 1774 Finchley, Middlesex, England
Died	16 June 1850(1850-06-16) (aged 76) Prospect, Colony of New South Wales
Resting place	St Barts, Prospect
Citizenship	British Empire
Relatives	Nelson Lawson (son) John Street (son-in-law)
Known for	1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains

William Lawson, MLC (2 June 1774 – 16 June 1850) was a British soldier, explorer, land owner, grazier and politician who migrated to Sydney, New South Wales in 1800. Along with Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth, he pioneered the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by British colonists.