William Pinckney Mason

William Pinckney Mason (10 January 1843–16 December 1922)^[1] was a Lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy, ultimately serving as commander of several ironclad gunboats. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, and his wife Ann Eilbeck.^[1]

Early life and education

Mason was born on 10 January 1843 in Alexandria and was the youngest child of a large family born to Dr. Richard Chichester Mason and his wife Lucy Bolling Randolph.^[1][2]

American Civil War

Mason resigned from the United States Navy as an acting midshipman on 19 April 1861.^[3] Mason enlisted in the Confederate States Navy where he became an acting midshipman on 11 June 1861.^[3] On 7 January 1864, Mason was promoted to master in line of promotion and was made 2nd Lieutenant on 2 June 1864.^[3] Mason served on the CSS United States in 1861.^[3] Mason later served as commander of the CSS Beaufort and CSS Virginia II.^[3]

Marriage and children

Mason married Elizabeth Ruthven McGill on 29 January 1873.^[1] He and Elizabeth had three children:^[1]

• Wardlaw McGill Mason (1876–1936)^[1]
• Lucius Randolph Mason (28 January 1886–23 November 1984)^[1]
• Shirley Carter Mason Prescott (12 October 1891–21 March 1972)^[1]

Later life

After a brief illness, Mason died on 16 December 1922 at his residence in Rockville, Maryland at the age of 80.^[1][2] He was buried after 16 December 1923 at Rockville Union Cemetery.^[1]

Ancestry

References