George Mason

Biography

First years

George Mason is born on December 11th, 1725 in the plantation from her parents George and Ann Thomson Mason in Virginia. His/her father dies in 1735 in an accident of boat and it is then raised by his uncle, John Mercer. This last has a gigantic library of more than 1500 works of which a third is devoted to the right, which will push George in the study of this field.

At the 19 years age, he inherits officially the responsibility for management for the field for his parents, named Gunston Hall , at the edge of the Potomac. For this reason, it becomes one of the richest growers of Virginia. The April 4th 1750, it marries Ann Eilbeck, girl of an important grower of the Maryland, then 16 years old, with which it will have 12 children of which nine will survive until the adulthood (see low).

In 1752 it takes a participation in the Ohio Company, a company which speculates in the grounds of the still wild West at that time. When the British crown revokes the rights of this company in 1773, Mason, then treasurer, write its first article “ Extracts from the Virginia Charters, with Some Remarks upon Them ”. There will remain shareholder of this company until his death.

In parallel, Mason begins a political career. In 1758, it is elected with the Lower House of the government of Virginia to represent the Comté of Fairfax. It keeps this mandate until in 1761.

Before the revolution

When the British government publishes, in 1765, the Stamp Act which imposes a tax on all the official documents drawn up in the colonies, George Mason is the author of an open letter intended for the merchants of London, explaining the point of view of colonial and requiring their support. It signs simply its letter “ has Virginia Planter ”. When, in the summer 1765, the colonies organize a boycott of all the official documents to protest against the new law, Mason uses its talents of lawyer to find solutions making it possible to avoid paying the taxes.

In 1766, in reply to an open letter of the London merchants attacking the colonial ones, it answers once again by a letter, published in several newspapers of the capital, always under the same signature. The May 18th 1769, George Washington present at the government of Virginia a series of resolutions, written by Mason, recommending the total boycott of the imports of Great Britain as long as the complaints of the colonists are not taken into account. These laws, known under the name of Virginia Association will be adopted and implemented in the months which follow.

In fact, between 1770 and 1772, the tension goes growing between Great Britain and its colonies of the New World, punctuated on a side by the establishment of various taxes (on the for example) and other by resolutions of boycott of several products of importation. During these years, Mason withdraws temporarily political life to deal with the businesses of the Ohio Company , buying in particular for this one several rights on grounds.

The March 9th 1773, his wife, Ann Eilbeck Mason, dies. It attends by far the business of the Boston Tea Party , but is by chance in the capital when the government votes for a resolution declaring on June 1st (day of the closing of the wearing of Boston) day of prayer and fast. Following this decision, the governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, dissolves the assembly. In answer, the delegates institute an annual convention of the colonies of which the first assembly is held on September 1st 1774 with Philadelphia. In parallel, Manson and Washington publish, the July 18th 1774, an headed document Fairfax County Resolves which marks a turning in the relations between Great Britain and the colonies. Indeed, in this document, the authors recommend to be more satisfied to protest against the British “aggressions”, but to set up a true general plan of defense for the safeguarding of the common rights.

At the beginning of August 1774, the first session of the Virginia Convention , which replaces the old government, with place. Mason is invited there, but refuses to take part in it. At the time of the second session, behavior in March 1775, Patrick Henry holds gives to it a famous speech remained, entitled “ Give me liberty but give me death ”. Convention sets up then of the Milice S armed.

The American revolution

When the revolution bursts officially, the April 19th 1775, Mason belongs to the defense committee of Fairfax. The second congress of the colonies names, in August 1775, ordering Washington of the armed forces and proposes in Mason the seat of representative of Virginia. Mason refuses to remain at the committee of the Virginia Convention , true government of the colony since the departure of the representative of the crown, Lord Dunmore. The May 15th 1776 the congress of the colonies proposes with those to establish their own governments. In answer, Virginia votes for a resolution asking the congress to engage officially for independence. In same time, an work group, directed by Mason, is charged to draw up a declaration of the rights ( bill off rights ) as well as a constitution for Virginia. At the end of May, Mason proposes a first version of its declaration of the rights which is subjected to the vote of convention the May 27th. In waiting of this vote, Mason writes a first outline of the Constitution. The June 12th 1776, the declaration of the rights is approved and the June 28th, convention adopts the Constitution of Virginia.

In same time, the other colonies following the movement launched by Virginia and also work with the establishment of their founding documents while being inspired largely by work of Mason. The July 2nd 1776, the congress, on a proposal of Richard Henry Lee representing of Virginia, declares the independence of the colonies and presents, the July 4th its declaration of independence in the world, based on the common philosophy of the founding fathers who are Mason, Washington Jefferson and Madison.

In 1777, George Mason is elected with the new government of Virginia where it remains until in 1780. This same year, he marries in second weddings Sarah Brent. He withdraws officially public life in 1781, the year of the end of the revolution, for health reasons.

Convention of 1787

In spite of its failing health and its aversion for the voyages, Mason leaves in 1786 for federal Convention Philadelphia as a representative Virginia. From May to September 1787, it works with the creation of the Constitution. However, he refuses to sign this document, mainly because of the omission of the declaration of the rights within this one. After the end of Convention, it continues to fight for the addition of this declaration, which costs him its long friendship with George Washington. He refuses, always for health reasons, a place with the Sénat and, finally the December 15th 1791, the U.S. Bill off Rights is added to the Constitution in the form of ten amendments.

Memorial and other monuments

Mason dies at his place, the October 7th 1792. A few months before, in spite of its failing health, it accommodates the president Thomas Jefferson in his residence of Gunston Hall which is a tourist attraction today. A memorial, the George Mason Memorial is set up in its memory the April 9th 2002 in a park of Washington, D.C near to that of Thomas Jefferson. One of the principal bridges connecting the capital to the State of Virginia is called George Mason Memorial Bridge in its honor. In the same way, the university George Mason University with Fairfax in Virginia bears its name, just like told of Mason County in the Kentucky in Virginia-Western and Illinois.

Family and descent

George Mason is his wife Ann Eilbeck had twelve children of which nine survived until the adulthood:

George Mason V off Lexington (April 30th, 1753 - December 5th, 1796). Marry Elizabeth Mary Ann Barnes Hooe (Betsy) on April 22nd, 1784, six children.
Ann Eilbeck (Nancy) Mason (January 13rd, 1755 - 1814). Marry Rinaldo Johnson on February 4th, 1789, three children
William Mason (birth and death in 1757)
William Mason (October 22nd, 1757 - 1818). Marry Ann Stewart on July 11th, 1793, five children.
Thomson Mason (March 4th, 1759 - March 11th, 1820). Marry Sarah McCarty Chichester in 1784, eight children.
Sarah Eilbeck (Sally) Mason (December 11th, 1760 - September 11th, 1823). Marry Daniel McCarty, Jr. in 1778, ten children.
Mary Thomson Mason (January 24th, 1764 - 1806). Marry John Through Cooke on November 18th, 1784, ten children.
John Mason (April 4th, 1766 - March 19th, 1849). Marry Anna Marie Murray on February 14th, 1796, ten children of which James Mr. Mason.
Elizabeth Mason (April 19th, 1768 -?). Marry William Thornton in 1789, two children.
Thomas Mason (May 1770 - September 18th, 1800). Marry Sarah Barnes Hooe on April 22nd, 1793, four children.
James & Richard Mason (twins) born in December 1772 and dead six weeks later.

See too

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