John Thomson Mason

For other people called John Thomson Mason, see John Thomson Mason (disambiguation).
John Thomson Mason
Attorney General of Maryland
In office
1806–1806
Preceded by William Pinkney
Succeeded by John Johnson
Personal details
Born March 15, 1765(1765-03-15)
Chopawamsic, Stafford County, Colony of Virginia
Died December 10, 1824(1824-12-10) (aged 59)
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Beltzhoover
Children Mary Barnes Mason Winter
Elizabeth Ann Armistead Thomson Mason Wharton
Abram Barnes Mason Barnes
Melchior Beltzhoover Mason
John Thomson Mason, Jr.
Thomson Mason
Virginia Wallace Mason
Residence Montpelier, Clear Spring, Maryland
Profession Attorney
Religion Anglican, Episcopalian

John Thomson Mason (15 March 1765 – 10 December 1824)[1][2] was a prominent American jurist and Attorney General of Maryland in 1806.[2]

Contents

Early life

Mason was born on 15 March 1765 at Chopawamsic in Stafford County, Virginia.[1][2] He was the third child and youngest son of Thomson Mason and his wife Mary King Barnes.[1]

Education and career

Mason attained high rank at the bar,[3] but twice declined the office of United States Attorney General when it was offered by Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.[3] Mason ran for one of Maryland's seats in the United States Senate, but lost.[3] He then served as Attorney General of Maryland in 1806.[2]

Marriages and children

Mason married Elizabeth Beltzhoover in 1797.[1][2] He and Elizabeth had seven children:[1][2]

Later life

Mason died on 10 December 1824 at the age of 59.[1] Mason was interred at his Montpelier estate in Clear Spring, Maryland.[4]

Relations

John Thomson Mason was a nephew of George Mason (1725–1792)[1]; son of Thomson Mason (1733–1785)[1]; brother of Stevens Thomson Mason (1760–1803)[1]; half-brother of William Temple Thomson Mason (1782–1862)[1]; first cousin of George Mason V (1753–1796)[1]; first cousin once removed of Thomson Francis Mason (1785–1838), George Mason VI (1786–1834), Richard Barnes Mason (1797–1850), and James Murray Mason (1798–1871)[1]; uncle of Armistead Thomson Mason (1787–1819) and John Thomson Mason (1787–1850)[1]; father of John Thomson Mason, Jr. (1815–1873)[1]; and great uncle of Stevens Thomson Mason (1811–1843).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Gunston Hall. "John Thomson Mason". Gunston Hall. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20080211141639/http://www.gunstonhall.org/masonweb/p26.htm#i1295. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f The Political Graveyard (June 16, 2008). "Mason family of Virginia". The Political Graveyard. http://politicalgraveyard.com/families/10855.html. Retrieved 2009-03-07. 
  3. ^ a b c The Colonial Dames of America (1910). Ancestral Records and Portraits: A Compilation from the Archives of Chapter I, the Colonial Dames of America. Boston, Massachusetts: Grafton Press. pp. 808. 
  4. ^ Federal Writers' Project. Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State. US History Publishers. ISBN 1603540199. http://books.google.com/books?id=K6BlU1wPV7oC. 
Legal offices
Preceded by
William Pinkney		 Attorney General of Maryland
1806		 Succeeded by
John Johnson