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Richard Lawrence (c. 1800 – June 13, 1861) was a house painter and the first known person to attempt to assassinate the President of the United States. Lawrence attempted to shoot President Andrew Jackson outside the United States Capitol on January 30, 1835. ==Life== Lawrence was born in Lancashire, England, most likely around 1800 or 1801. His family emigrated to the United States when he was 12 years old and settled in Virginia near Washington, D.C. Lawrence's childhood and early adult years were apparently normal. At his trial, he was described by acquaintances and relatives as a "relatively fine young boy..." who was "reserved in his manner; but industrious and of good moral habits." Lawrence later found work as a house painter. Historians have speculated that exposure to the chemicals in his paints may have contributed to the mental issues that arose in his 30s. By November 1832, Lawrence's behavior and mental stability inexplicably changed. He announced to his family that he was returning to England and left Washington, D.C. shortly thereafter. He returned a month later and told his family he decided not to travel abroad as it was too cold. Shortly after returning, he again announced to his family that he was returning to England to study landscape painting. Lawrence left once again and briefly stayed in Philadelphia before returning home. He told his family that unnamed "persons" had prevented him from traveling abroad and that the United States government also disapproved of his plan to return to England. He also claimed that while he was in Philadelphia, he read several stories about himself in the newspaper that were critical of his travel plans and his character. Lawrence told his family that he had no choice but to return to Washington, D.C. until he could afford to hire his own ship and captain which would allow him to sail to England. Around this time, Lawrence abruptly quit his job. When questioned by his sister and brother-in-law with whom he was living, Lawrence claimed that he did not need to work because the United States government owed him a large sum of money. Lawrence believed he was owed money because he was King Richard III of England and owned two English estates. Lawrence became convinced that he was not receiving any money because of President Andrew Jackson's opposition to the establishment of a national bank. He felt that if President Jackson was no longer in office, Vice President Martin Van Buren would establish a national bank and allow Congress to pay him the money for his English estate claims. Lawrence's personality and outward appearance changed dramatically around this point. The once conservatively dressed Lawrence grew a mustache and began buying expensive and flamboyant clothing which he would change three or four times a day. Lawrence also took to standing in the doorway of his home for hours gazing out into the street. Neighborhood children would jokingly address him as "King Richard". This typically pleased Lawrence who failed to realize the children were teasing him. He also became paranoid and hostile towards others. On one occasion, he threatened to kill a maid who he thought was laughing at him. Lawrence also began verbally and physically abusing his family, mainly his sisters, over imagined slights. In one instance, he threatened to hit his sister with a paperweight because he believed she had been talking about him.〔 At Lawrence's trial, witnesses described the bizarre behavior he exhibited during this time. Several people testified that Lawrence would engage in nonsensical conversations with himself while others stated that he would have laughing and cursing fits. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Richard Lawrence (failed assassin)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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