Richard Barnes Mason

Richard Barnes Mason
United States  Military Governor of California
In office
1847–1849
Preceded by Stephen W. Kearny
Succeeded by Persifor Frazer Smith
Personal details
Born January 16, 1797
Lexington Plantation, Fairfax County, Virginia
Died July 25, 1850 (aged 53)
Jefferson Barracks, St Louis, Missouri
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Margaret Hunter
Profession Soldier
Military service
Service/branch US Army
Years of service 1817 - 1850
Rank Colonel

Richard Barnes Mason (January 16, 1797 – July 25, 1850)[1] was a career officer in the United States Army and the fifth military governor of California before it became a U.S. state.

Military career

Mason 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 1st U.S. Dragoons as its first Major. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1836. During the Mexican-American War, he served in New Mexico Territory and California, rising to the rank of Colonel in 1846.[2]

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.[2]

Mason died in 1850 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.[1][2]

Honours

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.[3] There is also a Mason Street in downtown San Francisco.

Marriage and children

Mason married Elizabeth Margaret Hunter on 28 January 1836.[1] Richard and Elizabeth had three daughters:[1]

Relations

Richard Barnes Mason was a grandson of George Mason (1725–1792);[1] son of George Mason V (1753–1796);[1] brother of George Mason VI (1786–1834);[1] grandnephew of Thomson Mason (1733–1785);[1] first cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason (1760–1803), John Thomson Mason (1765–1824), and William Temple Thomson Mason (1782–1862);[1] first cousin of Thomson Francis Mason (1785–1838) and James Murray Mason (1798–1871);[1] second cousin of Armistead Thomson Mason (1787–1819), John Thomson Mason (1787–1850), and John Thomson Mason, Jr. (1815–1873);[1] and second cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason (1811–1843).[1]

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Gunston Hall. "Richard Barnes Mason". Gunston Hall. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Caroyln Foreman (March 1941). "Chronicles of Oklahoma,". Oklahoma Historical Society 19 (1): 15–36. OCLC 1554537. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
  3. ↑ "Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Fort Mason History Walk" (PDF). National Park Service. p. 12. Retrieved 2007-12-18.

Research resources