Background
John Young Mason was born on April 18, 1799 and was the son of Edmunds Mason and Frances Ann (Young) Mason, and grandson of Capt. James Mason of the 15th Virginia line, was a native of Greensville County, Va.
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John Young Mason was born on April 18, 1799 and was the son of Edmunds Mason and Frances Ann (Young) Mason, and grandson of Capt. James Mason of the 15th Virginia line, was a native of Greensville County, Va.
Educated at the University of North Carolina (A. B. , 1816) and at the law school at Litchfield, Connecticut, he was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1819 and began the practice of law at Hicksford (Greensville County), but removed to Southampton County in 1822.
From 1823 to 1831, he was a member of the General Assembly; in 1830, he represented a Tidewater district in the constitutional convention. In this distinguished assembly, Mason did not participate in the discussions but was an opponent of the extension of the suffrage and of the establishment of the white basis of representation. He served in Congress from March 4, 1831, to January 11, 1837. Resigning from Congress, he held a federal judgeship until his appointment, March 14, 1844, by Tyler as secretary of the navy.
He was the only member of Tyler's cabinet retained by Polk, who made him attorney-general. He served from March 4, 1845, to September 9, 1846, when he succeeded Bancroft as secretary of the navy. Under him the naval affairs in the Mexican War were conducted. Though an expansionist, Mason opposed in the cabinet the incorporation of Mexico into the United States and advocated the acceptance of the treaty signed by Nicholas P. Trist with Mexico. After his retirement from the cabinet, he resumed the practice of law in Richmond. At the same time, he became president of the James River & Kanawha Company, being elected in May 1849. In 1850, he was elected without his solicitation to represent his old constituency in the constitutional convention of 1850-51 and was chosen unanimously by this body as its presiding officer. He was a member of the Democratic state central committee in the presidential contest of 1852 and urged the South "to cherish and defend Northern men like Pierce who had risked so much for the maintenance of Southern rights and honor". From October 24, 1853, until his sudden death from apoplexy in 1859 he was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France. His career as a diplomat was inglorious, though with Buchanan and Soulé he signed on October 18, 1854, the Ostend Manifesto.
Mason served in the US Congress as Representative from Virginia from 1831 to 1837. His other posts included US District Court Judge for Virginia (1841 to 1844); Secretary of the Navy under President Tyler (1844 to 1845); United States Attorney General under President Polk (1845 to 1846); and again Secretary of the Navy, under Polk (1846 to 1849). As United States Minister to France from 1854 until his death, Mason helped draw up the Ostend Manifesto (1854), a failed attempt at drawing Cuba from Spanish to US-French influence.
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During his congressional career was a supporter of the Jacksonian measures, with the exception of the "force bill. " He refused to vote for the rechartering of the National Bank, even at the request of the Virginia General Assembly. As chairman of the House committee of foreign affairs, he advocated naval preparedness in the face of France's dilatory attitude over the spoliation claims, and introduced the bill recognizing the independence of Texas.
He realized the economic and political importance of a transportation system connecting eastern and western Virginia and urged the rapid extension of the canal to the Ohio.
Although he voted against the final engrossment of the constitution, after its adoption by the convention, he expressed the hope that the new constitution would allay sectional strife and promote a cordial feeling among the people.
member of the U. S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district; member of the Virginia Senate from Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex Counties; member of the Virginia Senate from Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex and Greensville Counties; member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Southampton County
Courteous, generous, and popular, Mason was a loyal Virginian, devoted to the institutions and to the social and political ideas of the state.
Quotes from others about the person
"Fat, ruddy, and fifty-five, comes the President of the Convention, a fair, pleasant speaking man, with one of those voices Shakespeare so much commends in women. He has the habit of success. Judge Mason is a very influential man. He is a great Democrat, a transcendental Democrat, passionately fond of the people, but votes against the free basis. "
He married Mary Anne Fort, August 9, 1821, and was the father of eight children.
1 July 1844 - 23 July 1884
1839 - 23 January 1900
31 October 1803 - 1 July 1870
1830 - 1881
15 October 1843 - 17 April 1921
17 July 1834 - 3 January 1928
29 November 1823 - 14 November 1862
7 November 1848 - 16 January 1921
