Lawrence Grayson

Lawrence Grayson (c. 1839 – 7 October 1916) was a mechanical engineer and politician in colonial South Australia.

Grayson was born in Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, England, was educated at the Manchester Academy, and served his apprenticeship as an engineer with Sir William Fairbairn. In 1859, he emigrated to South Australia in the Lady Anne, acting as schoolmaster during the voyage. He gained employment with the South Australian Railways' Islington workshops, where he remained for 21 years before joining the Union Engineering Company as manager, then managing director, a position he held until shortly before his death. during which time he recommended implementation of the Happy Valley water project. He was a strong advocate of the principle of private tendering for Government work, on the grounds of economy and promotion of private enterprise.

He was a founding member of the SA Chamber of Manufactures, and from 1903 to 1905 its President. He was President and Secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. He was a pioneer of the eight-hour day principle, which was first implemented by the South Australian Railways construction department, and in founding the Eight Hours' Day celebrations in 1874. He was a longtime member of the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery, and their Vice-President for many years. He was an active member of the School of Mines council and promoted the technical education of boys. Charles Edwin Grayson ( – ) married Minnie G. McQuillan on 15 September 1903. He was an electrician with the Great Boulder Proprietary mine, Western Australia. Maud Grayson (8 February 1876 – ) married Allen Crisp Edwards on 18 April 1901 May Elsie Grayson (21 September 1880 – ) married Herbert James Cadd on 11 April 1916, lived in Adelaide