Lawrences Vorfahren stammten aus St Albans in der Grafschaft Hertfordshire und kamen 1644 in die Vereinigten Staaten.[1] Sein Vater John Burling Lawrence (1774–1844) war Geschäftsführer der Apotheke Lawrence, Keese & Co. Seine Mutter war Hannah Haines geb. Newbold (1771–1832).[2] George heiratete 1835 Mary Anne Newbold (1808–1895). Aus ihrer Ehe gingen die Kinder Emlen Newbold Lawrence (1837–1925), John Burling Lawrence (1844-) und John L. Lawrence hervor. In zweiter Ehe heiratete er Ann Hough Trotter (1821–1893), mit der er fünf Kinder hatte, darunter Susan Newbold Lawrence (1856–1923) und Mary Gertrude Murray geb. Lawrence.[3]
Schon in frühester Kindheit galt Lawrences Interesse den Vögeln, die er in seiner Freizeit in ihren Lebensräumen beobachtete. Da er bereits mit 16 Jahren Angestellter und mit 20 Jahren Partner des Geschäfts seines Vaters wurde, konnte er allerdings nicht viel Zeit für die Ornithologie aufwenden. Seit dem Jahr 1820 besaß er ein Gewehr und begann den Vogelzug im Frühling und im Herbst zu beobachten. In dieser Zeit lebte er im Sommer in Forest Hill, einem Domizil seines Vaters, von wo aus er Manhattan und den Hudson River überblicken konnte. Als Dreiundachtzigjähriger veröffentlichte er An account of the former abundance of some species of birds on New York Island, at the time of their migration to the south und schilderte darin als Zeitzeuge, wie sehr sich die Avifauna in diesem Gebiet innerhalb von 75 Jahren verändert hatte.[4]
1841 kaufte John James Audubon ein ca. 16200 m² großes Gebiet am Hudson, das heute als Audubon Park Historic District bekannt ist. Das Grundstück befand sich in der Nähe von Forest Hill und so kam Lawrence in Kontakt mit Audubons Söhnen Victor Gifford (1809–1860) and John Woodhouse Audubon (1812–1862). Abgesehen von seinen jugendlichen Beobachtungen des Vogelzugs und der Erforschung ihrer natürlichen Lebensräume war ihm aber die Bandbreite des Forschungsfelds der Ornithologie noch zu wenig bekannt. So war er zunächst vor allem ein erfolgreicher Geschäftsmann, der sonst geringe Ambitionen auf diesem Gebiet zeigte. Ein Ereignis im Jahr 1841 änderte sein Interessensgebiet grundlegend. Jacob Post Giraud Jr. (1811–1870) und er gehörten zu den ersten, die sich als Hobby eine Sammlung US-amerikanischer Vögel zugelegt hatten. Darum lud sie der TaxidermistJohn Graham Bell (1812–1889) in sein Haus ein, um sich dort mit jungen Ornithologen zu treffen.[5] Hier wurden ihnen zum ersten Mal die Anatomie der Vögel und insbesondere die Muskeln zur Bewegung der Flügel demonstriert. Bei dem Treffen machte er auch zum ersten Mal Bekanntschaft mit Spencer Fullerton Baird, der ihn mit seinem Enthusiasmus für die Vogelkunde in seinen Bann zog und mit dem ihn danach eine lebenslange Freundschaft verband.[6] 1846 erschien seine erste Publikation mit dem Titel Description of a new species of Anser, in der er die für die Wissenschaft neue Lawrence-Ringelgans (Branta nigricans) beschrieb.[7]
Lafayette Sabine Foster: The published writings of George Newbold Lawrence, 1844–1891. In: Bulletin of the United States National Museum. Nr.40, 1892, S.1–124 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Daniel Giraud Elliot: In memoriam: George Newbold Lawrence. In: The Auk. Band13, Nr.1, 1896, S.1–10 (englisch, sora.unm.edu [PDF; 479kB; abgerufen am 13. November 2015]).
Daniel Giraud Elliot: Descriptions of Supposed New Species of Hummingbirds Belonging to the Genera Amazilia and Eriocnemis. In: The Auk. Band6, Nr.3, 1889, S.209–210 (englisch, sora.unm.edu [PDF; 77kB; abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Hans Hermann Carl Ludwig von Berlepsch: Descriptions of new Species and Subspecies of Trochilidae. In: The Ibis. Band5, Serie 5, 1887, S.289–298 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
John Cassin: Descriptions of new species of Birds of Genera Parus, Linn.; Emberiza Linn.; Carduelis, Briss.; Myiothera, Ill; amd Leuconerpes, Sw., specimens of which are in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Band5, Oktober 1850, S.103–106 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Elliott Coues: Third Instalment of American Ornithological Bibliography. In: Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories. Band5, Nr.4, 1880, S.521–1066 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Robert Ridgway: Description of two new species of birds from Costa Rica, and notes on other rare species from that country. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band1, Nr.39, 1878, S.252–255 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015] a).
Robert Ridgway: Description of a new Wren from the Tres Marias Islands. In: Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Band3, Nr.1, 1878, S.10–11 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015] b).
Robert Ridgway: Description of several new races of American birds. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band5, 1882, S.9–15 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Robert Ridgway: Descriptions of some new species and subspecies of birds from Middle America. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band10, Nr.655, 1887, S.505–510 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Robert Ridgway: A review of the genus Sclerurus of Swainson. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band12, Nr.420, 1890, S.21–31 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 15. November 2015]).
Robert Ridgway: Description of two supposed new species of swifts. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band16, Nr.420, 1893, S.43–44 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Robert Ridgway: Description of a New Genus of Tyrannidae from Santo Domingo. In: The Auk. Band3, Nr.3, 1896, S.382–383 (englisch, sora.unm.edu [PDF; 79kB; abgerufen am 15. November 2015]).
Joel Asaph Allen: Descriptions of New Species of South American Birds, with Remarks on various other little known Species. In: Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Band2, Nr.3, 1889, S.137–151 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Jacob Post Giraud Jr.: A description of sixteen new species of North American birds, described in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History. George F. Nesbitt, New York 1841 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Adolphe Boucard: A complete list up to date of the Humming-birds found in Columbia, with descriptions of several supposed new species. In: The Humming bird. A monthly scientific, artistic, and industrial review. Band2, Nr.9, 1892, S.73–87 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Adolphe Boucard: Genera of humming birds: being also a complete monograph of these birds. Pardy & Son, Bournemouth 1894, S.108–206 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 15. November 2015]).
Herold Herrick: Description of a new species of Helminthorhaga. In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Band26, 1874, S.220 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Philip Lutley Sclater, Osbert Salvin: Description of New or little-known American Birds of the Families Fringillidae, Oxyrhamphidae, Bucconidae, and Stringidae. In: Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London For the Year 1868. 1868, S.322–329 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Philip Lutley Sclater: On some little-known Species of Tanagers. In: The Ibis. Band3, Serie 5, 1887, S.271–275 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 14. November 2015]).
Osbert Salvin: A Visit to the principal Museums of the United States, with Notes on some of the Birds contained therein. In: The Ibis. Band4, Serie 3, 1874, S.305–329 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 15. November 2015]).
Osbert Salvin, Frederick DuCane Godman: Aves. In: Biologia Centrali-Americana. Band1, 1879–1904 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Osbert Salvin, Frederick DuCane Godman: Aves. In: Biologia Centrali-Americana. Band2, 1888–1904 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte: Conspectus generum avium. Band2. E. J. Brill, Leiden 1857 (gallica.bnf.fr [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Charles Barney Cory: Description of Four new Species of Haitian Birds. In: Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Band6, Nr.3, 1881, S.129–139 (biodiversitylibrary.org [abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Charles Barney Cory: Descriptions of Six Supposed New Species of Birds from the Islands of Old Providence and St. Andrews, Caribbean Sea. In: The Auk. Band4, Nr.3, 1887, S.177–180 (englisch, sora.unm.edu [PDF; 140kB; abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Charles Barney Cory: Notes on West Indian Birds. In: The Auk. Band8, Nr.1, 1891, S.41–46 (englisch, sora.unm.edu [PDF; 229kB; abgerufen am 16. November 2015]).
Description of a New Species of Anser. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band4, 1846, S.171–172 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1848).
Description of a New Species of Humming Bird of the Genus Mellisuga Brisson, with a note on Trochilus aquila Bourcier. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band6, 1855, S.137–142 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1858).
Description of seven new species of Humming-birds. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band6, 1858, S.258–264 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of two New Specoies of Gulls in the Museum of the Smithonian Inbstitution at Washington. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band6, 1858, S.264–266 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Descriptions of Six New Species of Birds from the Isthmus of Panama. In: The Ibis. Band4, 1862, S.10–13 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of Three New Species of Birds. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band7, 1861, S.303–305 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Catalogue of a Collection of Birds, made in New Grenada, by James McLeannan, Esq., of New York, with Notes and Descriptions of New Species. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band7, 27. Mai 1861, S.315–334 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Descriptions of Six New Species of Birds, of the Families Charadriidae, Trochilidae, and Caprimulgidae. In: Annals of Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band7, Nr.39, 1862, S.455–460 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Catalogue of a Collection of Birds, made in New Granada, by James McLeannan, Esq., of New York, with Notes and Descriptions of New Species Part III. In: Annals of Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band7, Nr.39, 1862, S.461–479 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Catalogue of a Collection of Birds, made in New Granada, by James McLeannan, Esq.; of New York, with Notes and Descriptions of New Species. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band8, 1863, S.1–13 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Descriptions of New Species of Birds of the Families Tanagridae, Cuculidae, and Trochilidae, with a Note on Panterpe insignis. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band8, Juni 1864, S.41–46 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of Six New Spezies of Birds from Central America. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band8, 1865, S.170–178 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Catalogue of a Collection of Birds in the Museum of the Smithonian Institution, made by Mr. H. E. Holland at Greytown, Nicaragua, with Descriptions of New Species. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band8, 1865, S.178–184 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of new species of Birds of the families Paridae, Vireonidae, Tirannidae and Trochilidae, with notes on Myiarchus Panamensis. In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Band17, 1865, S.37–39 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Catalogue of a Collection of Birds in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, made by Mr. H. E. Holland at Greytown, Nicaragua, with Descriptions of New Species. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band8, Nr.22, 1865, S.178–184 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of Six New Spezies of Birds of the Families Hirundinidae, Formicaridae, Tyrannidae, and Trochilidae. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band8, 1866, S.400–405 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of Five New Species of Central American Birds. In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Band19, Nr.4, Dezember 1867, S.232–234 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Catalogue of a Collection of Birds from Puna Islands, Gulf of Guayaquil, in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, collected by J. F. Reeve, Esq. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band9, 1870, S.234–238 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Descriptions of New Species of Birds of the Families Troglodytidæ and Tyrannidæ. In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Band23, 1871, S.233–237 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Characters of some New South American Birds, with Notes on other rare or little known Species. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band9, 1870, S.265–275 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of New Species of Buirds from Mexico, Central America, and South America, with a Note on Rallus longirostris. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band10, 1871, S.1–21 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1874).
Description of Six supposed New Species of American Birds. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band10, 1874, S.395–399 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of a New Species of Jay of the Genus Cyanocitta; also of a supposed New Species of the Genus Cyanocorax. In: Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. Band11, 1876, S.163–166 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Descriptions of New Species of Birds from the Island of Dominica. In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Band1, 1877, S.46–49 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1877–1880).
Description of a New Species of Birds of the Families Trochilidae and Tetranonidae. In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Band1, 1877, S.50–52 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1877–1880).
Descriptions of Seven New Species of Birds from the Island of St. Vincent, West Indies. In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Band1, 1878, S.146–152 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1877–1880).
Descriptions of Supposed New Species of Birds from the Islands of Grenada and Dominica, West Indies. In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Band1, 1878, S.160–163 (biodiversitylibrary.org – 1877–1880).
Catalogue of the Birds of Antigua and Bermuda from Collections made for the Smithonian Institution, by Mr. Fred A. Ober, with his observations. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band1, 1878, S.232–242 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of a new species of Icterus from the West Indies. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band3, 1880, S.351 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of a new species of bird of the genus Catharus from Ecuador. In: Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Band10, 1887, S.503 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of New Species of Birds of the Families Silviidae, Troglodytidae and Tyrannidae. In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Band4, Nr.2, 1887, S.66–68 (biodiversitylibrary.org).
Description of a New Species of Wren from the Island of Tobago, West Indies. In: The Auk. Band5, Nr.4, 1888, S.404 (englisch, unm.edu [PDF; 37kB]).
An Account of the Former Abundance of some species of Birds on New York Island, at the time of their Migration to the South. In: The Auk. Band6, Nr.2, 1889, S.201–203 (englisch, unm.edu [PDF; 462kB]).
Description of a New Subspecies of Cypselidæ of the Genus Chætura, with a Note on the Diablotin. In: The Auk. Band8, Nr.1, 1891, S.59–62 (englisch, unm.edu [PDF; 150kB]).