Background
Mason, John Young was born on April 18, 1799 in Hicksford, Virginia, United States. Son of Edmunds and Frances (Young) Mason.
Mason, John Young was born on April 18, 1799 in Hicksford, Virginia, United States. Son of Edmunds and Frances (Young) Mason.
Bachelor of Arts, Univercity North Carolina, 1816. Attended Litchfield (Connecticut) Law School.
Admitted to Virginia bar, 1819. Member Virginia House of Representatives, 1823-1827, Virginia Senate, 1827-1831. Member Virginia Constitutional Convention, 1829, 30, opposed extended suffrage.
Presiding officer Virginia Constitutional Convention, 1850-1851.
Member United States House of Representatives (Democrat) from Virginia, 22d-24th congresses, 1831-1837, Chairman of Commission foreign affairs, refused to vote for rechartering of the United States Bank, introduced bill for recognition of Texas independence. United States district judge for Eastern Virginia, 1837.
United States secretary navy, 1844-1845, 46-49, opposed incorporation of Mexico by United States, favored treaty with Mexico signed by Nicholas P. Trist. United State Attorneys general, 1845-1846.
Practiced law, Richmond, Virginia, 1849-1854.
President James River & Kanawha Company, 1849. Member Virginia Democratic Central Committee, 1852. United States minister to France, 1854-1859, signed Ostend Manifesto (with James Buchanan and Pierre Soule) which advocated purchase or acquisition of Cuba by United States, 1854.
Member Virginia House of Representatives, 1823-1827, Virginia Senate, 1827-1831. Member Virginia Constitutional Convention, 1829, 30, opposed extended suffrage. Member United States House of Representatives (Democrat) from Virginia, 22d-24th congresses, 1831-1837, Chairman of Commission foreign affairs, refused to vote for rechartering of the United States Bank, introduced bill for recognition of Texas independence.
Member Virginia Democratic Central Committee, 1852.
Married Mary Ann Fort, August 9, 1821, 8 children.