Edward Thaddeus Lawton

Edward T. Lawton, OP (October 12, 1913 – December 19, 1966) was an American-born bishop of the Catholic Church. He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria from 1964 to 1966.

Early life and education Born in South Boston in Massachusetts, Lawton was educated at St. Francis de Sales School, Boston College High School, and Boston College. He entered the Dominican novitiate at St. Rose Priory in Springfield, Kentucky and he made his first profession of vows on August 16, 1937. His philosophical and theological studies were taken at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois and he was ordained a priest there on June 6, 1943.

Priesthood Lawton's first assignment as a priest was teaching at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois where he remained until 1951. He attended the last two sessions of the Second Vatican Council in 1964 and 1965. While traveling in an automobile he suffered a coronary thrombosis and died on December 19, 1966. His funeral was held the following day at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Gusau and his body was laid to rest in the cemetery adjacent to the church.