托马斯·劳伦斯出生在6红十字街， 布里斯托 ，最小的幸存下来的孩子，托马斯·劳伦斯，主管关长和露西读，一个牧师的女儿。这对夫妇有16个孩子，但只有五个存活婴儿：劳伦斯的弟弟安得烈成为一位牧师；威廉的军队有一个职业生涯；露西姐妹和安妮嫁给了一个律师和一个牧师（劳伦斯的侄子，包括 安得烈布洛克萨姆 ）。托马斯出生后不久他父亲决定成为一个老板，接过白狮酒店和美国在宽街隔壁的咖啡馆，布里斯托尔。但是创业没有成功，在1773劳伦斯高级删除他的家人从布里斯托尔接管黑熊酒店租赁迪韦齐斯，对于伦敦绅士谁是他们每年都去洗澡把水最喜欢停留的地方。

它是家庭的六年呆在劳伦斯高中开始使用绘图和背诵，儿子的早熟的天才，黑熊在酒店。游客将迎来“先生们，这是我的儿子–要他背诵诗歌，或把你的肖像吗？”在那些听了汤姆的朗诵，或汤米，他被称为，是演员 加里克 。 劳伦斯的正规教育仅限于在堡垒的两年里，在布里斯托尔的一所学校，他六岁时为八，并从一个反对的大臣在法语和拉丁语的一点学费。 他也成为了舞蹈、击剑，拳击和台球。  十岁的他名声已经足够他接受提 巴林顿 的 杂记 “没有任何人最遥远的指令，能够复制历史图片在精湛的风格”。 但劳伦斯再次失败，作为一个高级地主，在1779，他被宣布破产，全家搬到了 卫浴 。从现在开始，劳伦斯是支持他的父母的钱，他从他的肖像挣。

 
 早期的粉彩肖像家庭定居在艾尔弗雷德街2号在洗澡，和年轻的劳伦斯确立了自己作为一个肖像画家在 彩色粉笔. The oval portraits, for which he was soon charging three guineas, were about 12 inches by 10 inches (30 by 25 centimetres), and usually portrayed a half-length. His sitters included  “公爵夫人的devonshire ， 莎拉她 ， Henry Harpur爵士 （对 卡尔克修道院 ，德比郡，谁愿意送劳伦斯去意大利–高级劳伦斯拒绝与他儿子的一部分）， 沃伦·黑斯廷斯 和 Elijah Impey爵士 。  有才华，有魅力和吸引力（和令人惊讶的温和的）劳伦斯很受浴的市民和游客：艺术家 威廉霍尔 Mary Hartley给他鼓励，有钱的人让他研究他们的画和劳伦斯的画的一份收藏 拉斐尔  变形 被授予 银镀金 调色板和奖金以美术协会在伦敦5金币。

Thomas Lawrence was born in 6 Red Cross Street, Bristol, the youngest surviving child, Thomas Lawrence, director of the Commissioner and Lucy, the daughter of a clergyman. The couple have 16 children, but only five survived infancy: Laurence's younger brother Andrew became a clergyman; William's forces have an occupation career; the Lucy sisters and Anne married a lawyer and a priest (Laurence's nephew, including Andrew Bullock Sam). Shortly after Thomas was born, his father decided to become a boss, took over the White Lion Hotel and the United States in the wide street next to the cafe, Bristol. But the venture was not successful, in 1773 Laurence removed his family took over the The Bear Hotel rental senior diweiqisi from Bristol,  for the London gentleman who is their annual visit to the bathing water most love the place to stay.
It was the six year of the family's stay at Laurence high school began to use drawing and reciting, son of precocious genius, black bear in the hotel. Visitors will be greeted by "gentlemen, this is my son - do you want him to recite poetry, or put your portrait?"" In those who listened to Tom's recitation, or Tommy, he was known as the actor Garik. Laurence's formal education was limited to six years at the fort in a school in Bristol, where he was at the age of eight, and from a minister of the opposition in French and Latin for a little tuition in the city of.  he also became a dancer, fencing, boxing and billiards. at the age of ten, his reputation is enough, "he accepted Curitiba Layton no one the most distant instruction, to replicate the historical picture in exquisite style".  but Laurence failed again, as a senior landlord, in 1779, he was declared bankrupt, the family moved to the bathroom. From now on, Laurence is supporting his parents for the money he earned from his portrait.
The pastel portrait family settled in the early 2 Alfred street in the bath, and the young Laurence established himself as a portrait painter in crayons. The oval portraits, for which he was soon charging Three Guineas, were about 12 inches by 10 inches (30 by 25 centimetres), and usually portrayed a half-length. His sitters "the Duchess included Devonshire, Sarah Henry Harpur (for her, sir calke Abbey in Derbyshire, and who are willing to send Laurence to Italy - Senior Laurence refused to part with his son, Warren Hastings and Sir Impey Elijah). talented, charming and attractive (and surprisingly modest) Laurence popular bath residents and visitors: artist William Holzer Mary Hartley gave him encouragement; [a] Rafael 8 rich people let him study their painting and Laurence's painting was awarded a silver plated palette deformation and the prize to the fine arts association in London 5 gold coins.