Edward Thaddeus Lawton, O.P. (1913–1966), a Dominican priest and missionary, was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, on October 12, 1913. He attended St. Francis de Sales School, Boston College High School, and Boston College. He entered the Dominican Order at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky, making his profession on August 16, 1937. Lawton studied philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, and theology in Washington, D.C., and River Forest, where he was ordained on June 6, 1943.

After teaching at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, he was sent in early 1951 as one of the first missionaries of the Province of St. Albert the Great to Lagos, Nigeria. He served as Director of the Thomistic Institute, chaired the Archdiocese of Lagos Radio Committee, and conducted retreats for priests and religious.

On January 15, 1954, Father Lawton was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Sokoto, Nigeria, a territory of 46,000 square miles with a small Catholic population. Despite health challenges, he continued his work and, on August 15, 1964, was consecrated as the first Bishop of Sokoto. Under his leadership, the Catholic community grew significantly. Bishop Lawton passed away suddenly on December 19, 1966, while traveling between Sokoto and Gusau. He was buried in the Dominican plot of the cemetery adjacent to Our Lady of Fatima Church in Gusau.