Richard Barnes Mason
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| Richard Barnes Mason | |
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| In office 1847 – 1849 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen W. Kearny |
| Succeeded by | Persifor Frazer Smith |
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| Born | January 16, 1797 Lexington, Virginia |
| Died | July 25, 1850 (aged 53) Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, Missouri |
| Profession | Soldier |
Richard Barnes Mason (January 16, 1797 – July 25, 1850) was a career general officer in the United States Army and the sixth military governor of California before it became a U.S. state.
Mason was born in Lexington, Virginia, the grandson of George Mason, one of the founding fathers of the United States. He was commissioned into the Army in 1817 and served in the 1st U.S. Infantry during the Black Hawk War. In 1833, he transferred to the United States Dragoons as its first major. During the Mexican-American War, he served in New Mexico Territory and California, eventually rising to the rank of colonel.[1]
Following the war, he was appointed military governor of California, serving from May 31, 1847, until April 13, 1849. When gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, Mason made a report of the finding to President James K. Polk.[1]
Mason died at Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, Missouri, in 1850.[1]
In 1882, the Post at Point San Jose in San Francisco, California was renamed Fort Mason in his honour, and served as an Army base for more than 100 years.[2] There is also a Mason Street in downtown San Francisco.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Caroyln Foreman (March 1941). "Chronicles of Oklahoma,". Oklahoma Historical Society vol. 19 (No. 1): pp. 15-36. OCLC 1554537.
- ^ Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Fort Mason History Walk 12. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
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