John Lawson, an American surveyor and historian, of Scottish birth. He began his surveys in 1700, but fell a victim to the jealousy of the Indians, who confounded the surveyor of their territory with those who despoiled them of it. He was captured by them while exploring North Carolina in 1712, when in company with De Graff'enried, a Swiss who contemplated colonization. The latter was permitted to buy himself free, but Lawson was burned at the stake. He left one of the most valuable of the early histories of the Caroli-nas, entitled " A New Voyage to Carolina, containing the Exact Description and Natural History of that Country, together with the Present State thereof; and a Journal of a Thousand Miles Travelled through Several Nations of Indians, giving a Particular Account of their Customs, Manners, etc." (London, 1700). The volume is a quarto of 258 pages, well illustrated with one of the best maps of the time, and with various other engravings, chiefly in natural history. The original edition is now very rare; it was reprinted at Raleigh in 1860 (12mo).