USS Lawrence was one of two 493-ton Niagara-class brigs (more correctly: snows) built at Erie, Pennsylvania, by Adam and Noah Brown under the supervision of Sailing Master Daniel Dobbins and Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry, for United States Navy service on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. She was commissioned in early August 1813, named in honor of Captain James Lawrence who had died June 4, 1813, in a famous battle with HMS Shannon. Lawrence quickly began operations with a voyage to Detroit, Michigan in search of the opposing British squadron.