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|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''
|actor = [[Harry Standjofski]]}}
|actor = [[Harry Standjofski]]}}
'''Lawrence Washington''' (1718 – 1752) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] planter, half-brother of [[George Washington]], and a member of the [[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]], operating in the Northern [[United States|American]] colonies.
'''Lawrence Washington''' (1718 – 1752) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] planter, half-brother of [[George Washington]], and a [[Master Templar]] of the [[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]], operating in the Northern [[United States|American]] colonies.


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early life===
Lawrence Washington was born in [[Virginia]] in 1718 to [[Augustine Washington]] and Jane Butler. In 1729, Lawrence and his younger brother, Augustine, Jr., were taken to England by their father and educated there. During this time, Lawrence was recruited into the Templar Order by the British [[Grand Master]], [[Reginald Birch]].<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref>
===Search for the Grand Temple===
===Search for the Grand Temple===
In 1738, [[Reginald Birch]], [[Grand Master]] of the British Templars, sent Washington a letter in which he expressed his desire to find the [[Grand Temple]], hidden somewhere in the New World, and tasked Washington with finding it.
In 1738, Lawrence returned to Virginia after having been named Master Templar of the Northern colonies by Birch. He received a letter from the Grand Master, in which he revealed that he had obtained the [[Edward Kenway's journal|journal]] of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Edward Kenway]]. The journal suggested that the [[First Civilization]] [[Grand Temple]] was located somewhere in the New World.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
Although he was unsure of its contents, Birch made the Temple the Order's highest priority. As the Grand Master's eyes and ears in the colonies, Lawrence was tasked with locating the Grand Temple as well as any Precursor relics in the region.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
At the same time, Lawrence oversaw his father's tobacco plantation at the {{Wiki|Potomac River}}. He also acted as a mentor of sorts to his younger half-brother, George. After the death of their father, George looked up to Lawrence as a role model, and the two loved each other dearly.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
===Military career===
In 1739, the British Parliament created an infantry regiment for the American colonies to be used in the [[Caribbean|West Indies]] against [[Spain]] in what became known as the {{Wiki|War of Jenkins' Ear}}. Arriving in [[Jamaica]] in 1741, Lawrence saw action in expeditions against {{Wiki|Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena}}, {{Wiki|Viceroyalty of New Granada|New Granada}}, [[Cuba]] and [[Panama]].<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
During these conflicts, many soldiers died of tropical diseases. Because he had arrived in the region early, Lawrence was able survive these fevers. In late 1742, Lawrence returned to Virginia and became a militia commander at the rank of Major.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
===Master Templar and other activites===
After inheriting his father's plantation, Lawrence renamed it [[Mount Vernon]], in honor of his commanding officer in the [[Royal Navy]], Vice Admiral {{Wiki|Edward Vernon}}. In 1743, he married Anne Fairfax, the eldest daughter of Colonel {{Wiki|William Fairfax}}. The Colonel would go on to exert a great deal of influence on George.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
Three years later, Lawrence wrote to his subordinate, [[Christopher Gist]]. In his letter, he adressed Gist on the Colonial Templars' need for one or a series of companies to double as a communications network. Lawrence noted that [[William Johnson]] had recently been appointed Colonel of the Warriors of the Six Nations, was well-established and held good relations with the [[Kanien'kehá:ka]]. He suggested to Gist that they start making friendly appeals to Johnson. Lawrence also mentioned that he planned on influencing his in-laws to create a trading company closer to his base of operations.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
Lawrence's plans came to fruition, and he successfully recruited Johnson into the Templar Order. Together, they worked to build an infrastructure for the Order in the colonies. In 1747, Lawrence began working with his father-in-law and other prominent businessmen, and created the {{Wiki|Ohio Company}} with the intent of opening trade to the interior of the American continent.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
The following year, Lawrence introduced George to [[Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron|Lord Thomas Fairfax]], the cousin of Lawrence's father-in-law. Thomas took a liking to the young George, hiring him as a surveyor.<ref>[[George Washington's notebook]]</ref>
 
In 1750, Lawrence received another letter from Birch, who was highly displeased with the former's lack of progress in discovering Precursor artifacts and sites, as well as the founding of a [[Colonial Assassins|Colonial Assassin Brotherhood]]. Claiming that Lawrence was "busy building a postal service", Birch transferred his agent, [[George Monro]], to the colonies in order to assist him in his mission. Although Monro would serve as Lawrence's subordinate, Birch claimed that the former was "[his] better in every way".<ref name="ACRG"/>


Twelve years later, however, Washington received another letter from Birch, who was displeased with Washington's failure to find any [[First Civilization]] artifacts and with the founding of an [[Assassins|Assassin Brotherhood]] in the colonies. In response, Birch arranged the transfer of his agent, Colonel [[George Monro]], to America.
===Stealing the artifacts===
{{Quote|By the time you receive this, I will already be on my way back to Virginia. Prepare yourself. Our true work begins now. Upon my return, we’ll be able to share the glad news with the Grand Master in London. Perhaps my leadership in the colonies will finally be recognized.|Lawrence in his letter to Gist, 1751.|Assassin's Creed: Rogue}}
Around this time, Lawrence was diagnosed with tuberculosis. In an attempt to heal himself, he traveled to [[Barbados]] with George in 1751. Knowing that an Assassin Brotherhood existed in [[Haiti|Saint-Domingue]], he sought to claim any [[Pieces of Eden]] in their possession. As George caught a minor case of smallpox, Lawrence was granted an opportunity to travel to [[Port-au-Prince]] while he recovered. He was relieved that George would survive, and also hoped to spare his brother from any Templar business.<ref name="ACRG"/>


In 1751, Washington managed to find leads regarding First Civilization artifacts. While his brother George was recovering from a case of smallpox, Lawrence left for [[Port-au-Prince]] and tracked down the local Assassins under the leadership of [[François Mackandal]]. He followed the Assassin [[Vendredi]] to a cave which led to a First Civilization temple.
Upon arriving, he tracked down the Assassins and learned that they were lead by a one-armed [[Maroons|Maroon]] named [[François Mackandal]], whose demeanor disgusted him. Lawrence tracked Mackandal's man [[Vendredi]] to the entrance of a cave. He planned to ambush Vendredi as the latter left the cave, but an [[1751 Port-au-Prince earthquake|earthquake]] struck after the Assassin had unintionally disturbed Precursor technology in the cave.<ref name="ACRG"/>


While Washington was lying in wait, an [[1751 Port-au-Prince earthquake|earthquake]] occurred, and Vendredi's legs were crushed beneath the debris as he attempted to escape. Washington offered to free the Assassin in exchange for Mackandal's location, though he ultimately decided to slit Vendredi's throat after the agreement. Washington snuck into Mackandal's camp, and stole the [[Precursor box]] and [[Voynich manuscript]], returning to [[Virginia]] with the artifacts.
Vendredi's legs were crushed beneath the debris as he attempted to escape, and Lawrence offered to free the Assassin in exchange for Mackandal's location. Vendredi complied, although Lawrence slit his throat afterwards. While Lawrence wished to have explored the cave, the entrance was obliterated.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
Under the cover of the earthquake, Lawrence infiltrated Mackandal's camp, and stole two Pieces of Eden in his possession; the [[Precursor box]] and [[Voynich manuscript|Manuscript]]. Returning to George in Barbados, Lawrence wrote to Gist and relayed the events to him. The Master Templar expressed to his subordinate that their true work was about to begin, and that Birch would perhaps finally recognize his leadership in the colonies upon learning of the events in Port-au-Prince.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
While sailing back to Virginia, Lawrence was pursued by the legendary Assassin [[Adéwalé]]. The Assassin eventually lost track of him, however. Back in the Thirteen Colonies, Lawrence entrusted the Precursor box and Manuscript to his subordinates [[Samuel Smith]] and [[James Wardrop]], respectively.<ref name="ACRG"/>


===Death===
===Death===
The following year, as Washington retired to his home at [[Mount Vernon]] suffering from tuberculosis, he was followed by the Assassin [[Shay Cormac]], who eavesdropped on a conversation between Lawrence and his fellow Templars [[Samuel Smith]], [[James Wardrop]], and [[Jack Weeks]], regarding their future plans for the box and the manuscript.
[[File:By Invitation Only 6.png|thumb|250px|Lawrence meeting with his fellow Templars]]
By July 1752, Lawrence had retired to Mount Vernon, dying of tuberculosis. Around this time, a prototype [[air rifle]] was sent to him. The Colonial Assassin [[Mentor]] [[Achilles Davenport]] charged [[Shay Cormac]] with interrogating Lawrence about the stolen artifacts and assassinating him. He tailed the air rifle shipment to Mount Vernon, and stole the weapon.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
While Shay watched from nearby at Lawrence's garden party, the latter assured George that he was in fine condition. As [[Jack Weeks]], Smith and Wardrop approached, he bid George fetch a bottle of wine for them. With George away, Lawrence requested that his fellow Templars keep his younger brother out of Templar business. He then inquired on their progress in discovering the purpose of the artifacts, to which Smith and Wardrop replied that they were fully occupied with doing so.<ref name="ACRG"/>
 
[[File:By Invitation Only 8.png|thumb|left|250px|Lawrence's final moments]]
After sending his fellow Templars away, Lawrence walked the grounds of his mansion and spoke to the guests. Shay hid in the crowd and assassinated the Templar with his [[Hidden Blade]]. In his dying moments, Lawrence claimed that Shay was too late, his own death having given his men time to escape. Thanking the Assassin for giving him a quick death, Lawrence passed away.<ref name="ACRG"/>


Lawrence also requested from his fellow Templars to not involve his brother in the dealings of the Order, a wish which they agreed to honor. Shortly after the meeting, as Lawrence walked the grounds of his mansion, Shay managed to approach and assassinate him. As he lay dying, Lawrence thanked Shay for a quick death, rather than letting his illness slowly kill him.
As Shay escaped, he told his fellow Assassin [[Liam O'Brien]] of his displeasure in killing the already dying Lawrence, and his suspicion that his death had little impact on the Templars. Liam claimed that Lawrence would simply have wanted him to believe so. Following the death of his brother, a grief-stricken George inherited Mount Vernon.<ref name="ACRG"/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
By Invitation Only 5.png|Washington with his brother
By Invitation Only 5.png|Lawrence with George
By Invitation Only 6.png|Washington meeting with his fellow Templars
By Invitation Only 8.png|Washington's final moments
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Reference==
==References==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''
{{Reflist}}
{{ACRG}}
{{ACRG}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Lawrence}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Lawrence}}

Revision as of 22:23, 2 May 2015


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Lawrence Washington (1718 – 1752) was a British planter, half-brother of George Washington, and a Master Templar of the British Rite of the Templar Order, operating in the Northern American colonies.

Biography

Early life

Lawrence Washington was born in Virginia in 1718 to Augustine Washington and Jane Butler. In 1729, Lawrence and his younger brother, Augustine, Jr., were taken to England by their father and educated there. During this time, Lawrence was recruited into the Templar Order by the British Grand Master, Reginald Birch.[1]

Search for the Grand Temple

In 1738, Lawrence returned to Virginia after having been named Master Templar of the Northern colonies by Birch. He received a letter from the Grand Master, in which he revealed that he had obtained the journal of the Assassin Edward Kenway. The journal suggested that the First Civilization Grand Temple was located somewhere in the New World.[1]

Although he was unsure of its contents, Birch made the Temple the Order's highest priority. As the Grand Master's eyes and ears in the colonies, Lawrence was tasked with locating the Grand Temple as well as any Precursor relics in the region.[1]

At the same time, Lawrence oversaw his father's tobacco plantation at the Potomac River. He also acted as a mentor of sorts to his younger half-brother, George. After the death of their father, George looked up to Lawrence as a role model, and the two loved each other dearly.[1]

Military career

In 1739, the British Parliament created an infantry regiment for the American colonies to be used in the West Indies against Spain in what became known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. Arriving in Jamaica in 1741, Lawrence saw action in expeditions against Cartagena, New Granada, Cuba and Panama.[1]

During these conflicts, many soldiers died of tropical diseases. Because he had arrived in the region early, Lawrence was able survive these fevers. In late 1742, Lawrence returned to Virginia and became a militia commander at the rank of Major.[1]

Master Templar and other activites

After inheriting his father's plantation, Lawrence renamed it Mount Vernon, in honor of his commanding officer in the Royal Navy, Vice Admiral Edward Vernon. In 1743, he married Anne Fairfax, the eldest daughter of Colonel William Fairfax. The Colonel would go on to exert a great deal of influence on George.[1]

Three years later, Lawrence wrote to his subordinate, Christopher Gist. In his letter, he adressed Gist on the Colonial Templars' need for one or a series of companies to double as a communications network. Lawrence noted that William Johnson had recently been appointed Colonel of the Warriors of the Six Nations, was well-established and held good relations with the Kanien'kehá:ka. He suggested to Gist that they start making friendly appeals to Johnson. Lawrence also mentioned that he planned on influencing his in-laws to create a trading company closer to his base of operations.[1]

Lawrence's plans came to fruition, and he successfully recruited Johnson into the Templar Order. Together, they worked to build an infrastructure for the Order in the colonies. In 1747, Lawrence began working with his father-in-law and other prominent businessmen, and created the Ohio Company with the intent of opening trade to the interior of the American continent.[1]

The following year, Lawrence introduced George to Lord Thomas Fairfax, the cousin of Lawrence's father-in-law. Thomas took a liking to the young George, hiring him as a surveyor.[2]

In 1750, Lawrence received another letter from Birch, who was highly displeased with the former's lack of progress in discovering Precursor artifacts and sites, as well as the founding of a Colonial Assassin Brotherhood. Claiming that Lawrence was "busy building a postal service", Birch transferred his agent, George Monro, to the colonies in order to assist him in his mission. Although Monro would serve as Lawrence's subordinate, Birch claimed that the former was "[his] better in every way".[1]

Stealing the artifacts

"By the time you receive this, I will already be on my way back to Virginia. Prepare yourself. Our true work begins now. Upon my return, we’ll be able to share the glad news with the Grand Master in London. Perhaps my leadership in the colonies will finally be recognized."
―Lawrence in his letter to Gist, 1751.[src]

Around this time, Lawrence was diagnosed with tuberculosis. In an attempt to heal himself, he traveled to Barbados with George in 1751. Knowing that an Assassin Brotherhood existed in Saint-Domingue, he sought to claim any Pieces of Eden in their possession. As George caught a minor case of smallpox, Lawrence was granted an opportunity to travel to Port-au-Prince while he recovered. He was relieved that George would survive, and also hoped to spare his brother from any Templar business.[1]

Upon arriving, he tracked down the Assassins and learned that they were lead by a one-armed Maroon named François Mackandal, whose demeanor disgusted him. Lawrence tracked Mackandal's man Vendredi to the entrance of a cave. He planned to ambush Vendredi as the latter left the cave, but an earthquake struck after the Assassin had unintionally disturbed Precursor technology in the cave.[1]

Vendredi's legs were crushed beneath the debris as he attempted to escape, and Lawrence offered to free the Assassin in exchange for Mackandal's location. Vendredi complied, although Lawrence slit his throat afterwards. While Lawrence wished to have explored the cave, the entrance was obliterated.[1]

Under the cover of the earthquake, Lawrence infiltrated Mackandal's camp, and stole two Pieces of Eden in his possession; the Precursor box and Manuscript. Returning to George in Barbados, Lawrence wrote to Gist and relayed the events to him. The Master Templar expressed to his subordinate that their true work was about to begin, and that Birch would perhaps finally recognize his leadership in the colonies upon learning of the events in Port-au-Prince.[1]

While sailing back to Virginia, Lawrence was pursued by the legendary Assassin Adéwalé. The Assassin eventually lost track of him, however. Back in the Thirteen Colonies, Lawrence entrusted the Precursor box and Manuscript to his subordinates Samuel Smith and James Wardrop, respectively.[1]

Death

Lawrence meeting with his fellow Templars

By July 1752, Lawrence had retired to Mount Vernon, dying of tuberculosis. Around this time, a prototype air rifle was sent to him. The Colonial Assassin Mentor Achilles Davenport charged Shay Cormac with interrogating Lawrence about the stolen artifacts and assassinating him. He tailed the air rifle shipment to Mount Vernon, and stole the weapon.[1]

While Shay watched from nearby at Lawrence's garden party, the latter assured George that he was in fine condition. As Jack Weeks, Smith and Wardrop approached, he bid George fetch a bottle of wine for them. With George away, Lawrence requested that his fellow Templars keep his younger brother out of Templar business. He then inquired on their progress in discovering the purpose of the artifacts, to which Smith and Wardrop replied that they were fully occupied with doing so.[1]

Lawrence's final moments

After sending his fellow Templars away, Lawrence walked the grounds of his mansion and spoke to the guests. Shay hid in the crowd and assassinated the Templar with his Hidden Blade. In his dying moments, Lawrence claimed that Shay was too late, his own death having given his men time to escape. Thanking the Assassin for giving him a quick death, Lawrence passed away.[1]

As Shay escaped, he told his fellow Assassin Liam O'Brien of his displeasure in killing the already dying Lawrence, and his suspicion that his death had little impact on the Templars. Liam claimed that Lawrence would simply have wanted him to believe so. Following the death of his brother, a grief-stricken George inherited Mount Vernon.[1]

Gallery

References