Thomas William Lawson (1857-1925), American entrepreneur and reformer, wrote exposés of stock-promotion and insurance practices that helped bring government regulation into those fields.

Thomas Lawson was born in Charleston, Mass., on Feb. 26, 1857, the son of a carpenter. A bright, attractive boy, he early entered into bold stock market operations that won and lost him several fortunes. He made a picturesque enterprise of the Rand-Avery Publishing Company, in Boston, and himself wrote books displaying vigor and intelligence, including The Krank (1887), glorifying baseball, and Our Bandanna (1888), a history of the Republican party.

Lawson built up a following in business ventures and speculations. As a lieutenant of several of the nation's largest financial combinations, he helped float such enterprises as the Amalgamated Copper Company in 1899. He was also heavily involved in Boston gas interests. He lived lavishly and was frequently in the public eye. His personal fortune was estimated...