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                                 Schedule 13D
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                                UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13D

   
                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              (Amendment No. 6)
    

                             LAWTER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   520786 10 4
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                Steven E. Ducommun
                                Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
                        70 West Madison Street, Suite 3300
                         Chicago, IL 60602  (312) 372-1121
               (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
             Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

   
                               December 4, 1996
           (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
    

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box ( ).

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with the statement ( ).  (A fee
is not required only if the reporting person:  (1) has a previous statement on
file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)

Note:  Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission.  See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are to
be sent.

*  The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).




SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 520786 10 4

   
1     NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:  James D. Terra
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON:  

2     CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:  Not applicable
           a ( )     b ( )
3     SEC USE ONLY
4     SOURCE OF FUNDS:  Not applicable
5     CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
      ITEMS 2(d) or 2(E):     ( )     None
6     CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:  United States of America
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
7     SOLE VOTING POWER:                                             13,443,825
8     SHARED VOTING POWER:                                                    0
9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:                                        13,443,825
10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:                                               0
11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:  13,443,825
12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
      CERTAIN SHARES:  (X)
13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):  29.8%
14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:  IN
    




   
ITEM 1.   SECURITY AND ISSUER.

          This Amendment No. 6 to the Schedule 13D filed by James D. Terra on 
January 19, 1987, as previously amended (the "Schedule 13D"), relates to 
shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common Stock") of Lawter 
International, Inc., a Delaware (the "Company"), which has its principal 
executive office at 990 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.

ITEM 2.   IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

          (a)(b)(c)  This statement is being filed by James D. Terra. Mr. 
Terra's home address is 845 Deep Woods Court, Grayslake, Illinois 60030.  Mr. 
Terra's principal occupation is as an investor.

          (d)(e)  Mr. Terra has not been, during the last 5 years, (i) 
convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar 
misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or 
administrative body of comptent jurisdiction pursuant to which he was or is, 
as a result of such proceeding, subject to a judgment, decree or final order 
enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities 
subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with 
respect to such laws.

          (f)  Mr. Terra is a citizen of the United States of America.

ITEM 3.   SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

          Not applicable.

ITEM 4.   PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

          Mr. Terra became a beneficial owner of 11,639,688 shares of the 
Common Stock (the "Estate Shares") when he was named executor of the Estate 
of Daniel J. Terra (the "Estate") on July 8, 1996.  This Amendment No. 6 
relates to Mr. Terra's sale on the Estate's behalf of 440,000 Estate Shares 
on December 4, 1996, in brokers' transactions effected through Donaldson, 
Lufkin & Jenrette on the New York Stock Exchange.  The 440,000 shares were 
sold as follows: 2,000 for $12.75 per share; 9,000 for $12.50 per share; and 
429,000 for $12.375 per share.  Mr. Terra sold the shares to raise cash to 
pay the Estate's general obligations.  Depending upon trading prices of the 
Common Stock and upon Mr. Terra's, or the Estate's (with respect to the 
Estate Shares), financial position and goals from time to time, Mr. Terra 
may, subject to any applicable statutory or other limitations, purchase 
additional Common Stock or dispose of Common Stock in the open market, in 
privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise.  Mr. Terra does not have any 
present plans or proposals which relate to or would result in (a) the 
acquisition by any person of additional securities of the Company, or the 
disposition of securities of the Company, (b) an extraordinary corporate 
transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the 
Company or any of its subsidiaries, (c) a sale or transfer of a material 
amount of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (d) any change in 
the present Board of Directors or management of the Company, including any 
plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any 
other existing vacancies on the board, (e) any material change in the present 
capitalization or dividend policy of the Company, (f) any



other material change in the Company's business or corporate structure, (g)
changes in the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or
other actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Company by any
person, (h) causing a class of securities of the Company to be delisted from a
national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an
interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities organization,
(i) a class of equity securities of the Company becoming eligible for
termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or (j) any action similar to any of those enumerated above.
Mr. Terra retains the right to evaluate his position in the future and change
his intent with respect to any of the foregoing actions.

ITEM 5.   INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

          (a)  Mr. Terra beneficially owns 13,443,825 shares representing
29.8% of the total Common Stock issued and outstanding on October 31, 1996. 
    

          DISCLAIMER OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

     James D. Terra disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of the Common
     Stock held by the Terra Foundation For The Arts (formerly, the Terra Museum
     of American Art)(the "Foundation"), of which he is a director.  Currently,
     the Foundation owns 1,352,152 shares of Common Stock, all of which were
     acquired through gifts to the Foundation by Daniel J. Terra.  These shares
     are not among the shares of Common Stock reported herein.

   
          (b)  James D. Terra holds sole voting and disposition powers over 
all shares of the Common Stock beneficially owned by him.
    

          (c)  Except as reported herein, Mr. Terra has not engaged in any
transaction in the Common Stock during the past 60 days.

   
          (d) Not applicable.
    



          (e) Not applicable

Item 6.   CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
          TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

          Mr. Terra does not have any contracts, arrangements, understandings or
relationships (legal or otherwise) with any person with respect to any
securities of the Company, including but not limited to transfer or voting of
any securities of the Company, finder's fees, joint ventures, loan or option
arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss,
or the  giving or withholding of proxies.

ITEM 7.   MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

   
          Not applicable.
    



                                  SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

   
Dated:  January 9, 1997                        /s/ James D. Terra
- -----------------------------          ----------------------------------------
        Date                                          Signature