John Thomson Mason

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

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 Sr.
Personal details
Born	(1765-03-15)15 March 1765 Chopawamsic, Stafford County, Colony of Virginia
Died	10 December 1824(1824-12-10) (aged 59)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Beltzhoover
Children	7, including John Thomson Mason Jr.
Residence	Montpelier, Clear Spring, Maryland
Profession	Attorney

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

Elizabeth Beltzhoover Mason, painted by Gilbert Stuart

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

• Mary Barnes Mason Winter (c. 1800–11 May 1844)[1]
• Elizabeth Ann Armistead Thomson Mason Wharton (4 April 1803–20 January 1857)[1]
• Abram Barnes Mason Barnes (21 October 1807–10 April 1863)[1]
• Melchior Beltzhoover Mason (born 3 October 1812)[1]
• John Thomson Mason, Jr. (9 May 1815–28 March 1873)[1]
• Thomson Mason (15 July 1818–1848)[1]
• Virginia Wallace Mason (16 April 1820–6 October 1858)[1]

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. Gunston Hall. "John Thomson Mason". Gunston Hall. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
2. The Political Graveyard (16 June 2008). "Mason family of Virginia". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
3. 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. p. 808.
4. Federal Writers' Project. Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State. US History Publishers. ISBN 1-60354-019-9.

Legal offices
Preceded by William Pinkney	Attorney General of Maryland 1806	Succeeded by John Johnson Sr.