Lanson P. Norcross (1837-1896) was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, and died in Denver, Colorado. He was a veteran of the American Civil War, serving in the Union Army as Private in Company K of the 13th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry. He graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary School and was ordained in 1870. Norcross spent time ministering in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Colorado, before being sent in 1876 to Deadwood, South Dakota, where he organized the first Congregational society. He returned to Wisconsin around 1883 and became involved in Christian Science around 1886. He became pastor of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oconto, Wisconsin, in 1888. Norcross then became a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, completing the Primary class in September 1888. He became a member of the Christian Scientist Association in October 1888, and he was also a member of the National Christian Scientist Association, as well as the Christian Science Dispensary Association. When Eddy resigned as pastor of the church in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1889, Norcross was invited to and accepted the pastorate there in August. One of his notable sermons titled "The Transfiguration" was published in the April 1892 issue of The Christian Science Journal. He served on the Bible Lesson Committee and helped prepare the 50th edition of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by compiling the index. In February 1893, Norcross resigned from the Boston pulpit but soon became pastor of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Denver, Colorado, and helped establish the cause there along with John Freeman Linscott. Eddy once referred to Norcross as one of her "promising, best students."

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