Laurence Sulivan (1713–1786) was an Anglo-Irish politician, Member of Parliament first for Taunton in 1762 and then for Ashburton in 1768. He was also Chairman of the British East India Company.^[1]

Sulivan was born in Ireland and moved to work for the East India Company, returning to England in 1753 with a moderate fortune, which enabled him to purchase Ponsbourne Park in Hertfordshire in 1761. He was elected a Director of the East India Company for 1755–8, 1764–5, 1769–70, 1771–2, 1778–80 and 1783 to his death. He was Deputy Chairman for 1763–4, 1772–3, 1780–1 and Chairman for 1758–9, 1760-2 and 1781–2. ^[2]

He had married in India and had two sons. Ponsbourne passed to his son Stephen, who sold it in 1811. His grandson, Laurence Sulivan (1783–1866) was a philanthropist, statesman and Deputy Secretary at War.