George Thomson Mason | |
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Born | August 17, 1818 Gunston Hall, Fairfax County, Virginia |
Died | April 26, 1846 (aged 27) Fort Brown, Texas |
Allegiance | United States |
Years of service | 1838–1846 (United States Army) |
Rank | Second lieutenant |
Commands held | 2nd U.S. Dragoons 1st U.S. Dragoons |
Battles/wars | Mexican–American War |
Other work | Killed in action |
George Thomson Mason (17 August 1818–26 April 1846)[1] was a United States Army Second Lieutenant killed in the Thornton Affair during the Mexican–American War. Mason was a scion of the prominent Mason political family of Virginia.
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Mason was born on 17 August 1818 at Gunston Hall in Fairfax County, Virginia.[1][2] He was the fourth child and second-eldest son of George Mason VI (11 August 1786–21 August 1834) and his wife Elizabeth Thomson Mason (1789–2 September 1821).[1] Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason IV (11 December 1725–7 October 1792), a Founding Father of the United States.[1]
Mason was a student in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York between 1 July 1838 and 1 July 1842.[1][2][3]
Upon his graduation from West Point, Mason was promoted in the United States Army to Brevet Second Lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons.[4] Mason then served at the School of Cavalry Practice at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.[4] Following his service at Carlisle Barracks, Mason served at Fort Jesup in Louisiana between 1842 and 1843.[2][3][4] From there, Mason served in an expedition to the Arkansas River in 1843.[4] At Fort Leavenworth, Mason was transferred to the 1st U.S. Dragoons on 6 March 1843 and served at the fort between 1843 and 1844.[4] Mason departed from Fort Leavenworth to participate in Scouting to Pawnee Villages in 1844 and then returned to Fort Leavenworth where he was again made a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons on 13 September 1844.[4] Mason served in Fort Jesup between 1844 and 1845 and in the Military Occupation of Texas between 1845 and 1846.[2][3][4]
Mason died on 26 April 1846 at age 27 near Fort Brown, Texas, 25 miles from Brownsville.[1][3][4][5] Mason died of injuries sustained in the Thornton Affair (also known as the Skirmish of La Rosita), considered the first battle of the Mexican–American War.[3][4][5] The two squadrons under the command of Captains May and Seth Thornton had marched out to reconnoiter Mexican movements when Thornton's command ran into a larger force of 500 Mexicans near La Rosita, and became surrounded.[6] Mason and eight enlisted men were killed, along with two enlisted wounded.[6]
It is believed that Fort Mason in Mason, Texas was named in honour of Mason.[3][7] Although the fort's history dates as far back to 1845, official records indicate that Fort Mason was not established until 6 July 1851.[3][7]
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