Thomas Mason was an early American businessman, planter, and politician.
Background
As a son of George Mason, a Founding Father of the United States, Mason was a scion of the prominent Mason political family. Mason was born in Fairfax County, Virginia on May 1, 1770. He was the youngest child and son of George Mason IV and his first wife Ann Eilbeck.
Mason was tutored by Reverend Buchanan at his father’s Gunston Hall plantation.
Career
He remained a pupil of Reverend Buchanan’s until he was sent to study at Fredericksburg Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1788. After completing his education at Fredericksburg Academy, Mason trained to be a merchant under an apprenticeship with William Hodgson in Alexandria. Following his apprenticeship in Alexandria, Mason’s father set him up with a business in Richmond.
In 1792, Mason inherited his father’s properties on the southern side of the Occoquan River across from Colchester along with the rights to the Occoquan ferry.
Mason named his plantation Woodbridge after the wooden toll bridge he built in 1795 to replace the ferry. Mason had hired renowned inventor and engineer Theodore Burr to design the toll bridge.
The toll bridge carried King"s Highway (present-day United States Route 1) across the Occoquan River. Woodbridge remained under the ownership of the Mason family until 1851 after the death of Mason"s eldest son, Gerard Alexander Mason.
Mason died on September 18, 1800 at his residence at age 30.
Membership
At the time of his death in 1800, Mason was serving his second term as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Prince William County.