| Josiah Lawson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Josiah Lawson in 1870 | |
| 14th President of Kania | |
| In office 21 December 1858 – 21 December 1876 | |
| Vice President | Roderick Scrimgeour |
| Preceded by | Daniel Durrant |
| Succeeded by | Miles Davidson |
| Nth Secretary of State | |
| In office 21 December 1850 – 21 December 1858 | |
| President | Daniel Durrant |
| Preceded by | Raymond Lavender |
| Succeeded by | Simon Kitts |
| Senator from Manasseh | |
| In office 21 December 1844 – 21 December 1850 | |
| President | Daniel Durrant (1846–1850) Andrew Reece (1844–1846) |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Succeeded by | N/A |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Josiah Rollins Lawson, Jr. 2 March 1819 Ephrahim City, Manasseh, Kania |
| Died | 20 June 1903 (aged 84) Ephrahim City, Manasseh, Kania |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse(s) | Jacintha Chauncellor (m. 1843; d. 1899) |
| Children | Janet · Irene · Patrick · Emily |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Kanian Alithian Church |
Josiah Rollins Lawson, Jr. (5 March 1819 – 20 June 1903) was the 14th President of Kania, serving from 1858 to 1876. Prior to becoming president, Lawson was the Secretary of State of Kania under presidents Daniel Durrant and Andrew Reece, and also served as the senator of his home state of Manasseh from 1844 to 1850. Hailed as one of Kania's greatest leaders, Lawson was often called the "Iron Negro" by his American and European contemporaries, who respected and often feared his aggressive and nationalistic behavior when dealing with adversaries at home and abroad, many of his actions having since gained famed for their sheer audacity and aggressiveness.
Regarded as one of Kania's foremost warhawks, Lawson repeatedly used Kania's military forces, especially its navy, to project the tiny nation's power and anti-slavery interested overseas, especially when it come to Southern America. Lawson passed the Law of Gideon in 1859 which permitted the execute the legally sanctioned kidnapping of American slaves and runaways and bring them to Kania where they would be free. Under his administration, a fallout between Kania and Great Britain occurred, and saw the Kanian Crisis reach a fever pitch during the Battle of Port Kane in 1870.
Lawson pushed Kania into the American Civil War with the aim of freeing tens of thousands of slaves, many of whom moved to the island nation immediately after their rescue. Lawson's military ventures were exceeded by his political gambles, many of which succeeded in gaining a newfound respect of the tiny nation by European colonial powers. He secured the French agreement to drop their claims to the nation's resources, and saw the Germans agree to pass on their advanced military technologies to the country following the Franco-Prussian War, increasing Kanian military power in the region.
For all of his failings and aggressive actions, Lawson has seen been hailed as a national hero who always acted in the best interests of his nation in the long run, though many may not have seen it as such at the time. Following his leave of office in 1876, Lawson left with an 88% approval rating, and the admiration of Kanian politicians at the time and those to come. Considered the Abraham Lincoln of his nation,Lawson kept the nation together during tough and trying times, and never forgot to whom he ultimately answered when it came to his dealings.