Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/128

 Vl-UNITED STATES SENATORS

Grayson, William (q. v.).

Lcc, Richard H. (q. v.).

Walker, John, was born at '*Castle Hill," Albemarle county, Virginia, February 13, 1744, son of Dr. Thomas Walker, the ex- plorer (q. v.), and Mildred Thornton, his wife. His mother was daughter of Colonel John and Mildred (Gregory) Thornton, the latter being daughter of Roger and ^lil- dred (Washington) Gregory, sister of Gen- eral George Washington. He attended Wil- liam and Mary College (1764), and after graduation settled at "Bel voir," Albemarle county, where he engaged in the occupation of a planter. In 1777 he was commissioned with his father to make special terms with the Indians at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, so as to retain their friendship throughout the revolution. During this war he served as an extra aide on the staff of General Wash- ington, with the rank of colonel. The lat- ter wrote to Patrick Henry, February 24, 1777, commending the ability, honor and prudence of Colonel Walker. The governor of Virginia appointed him to the United States senate, where he filled the vacancy made by the death of William Grayson, serving from May 4, 1790, until a successor was regularly elected by the legislature. His seat was thus relinquished to James Monroe. While a senator he voted for the removal of the seat of government to the Potomac river. He married, in 1764, Eliz- abeth, daughter of Bernard Moore, of *'Chel- sea," Virginia, and granddaughter, of Gov-

ernor Alexander Spotswood. They had one daughter, Mildred. He died in Orange county, Virginia, December 2, 1809.

Monroe, James (q. v.).

Tazewell, Henry (q. v.).

Mason, Stevens Thomson, was born in Stafford county, Virginia, in 1760, son of Thomson Mason, the brother of George Mason, the celebrated author of the Dec- laration of rights and state constitution. Stevens Thomson Mason was educated at William and Mary College, and on the out- break of the revolutionary war volunteered, was an aide to General Washington, and was present at the siege of Yorktown. Afterward he became a general of militia. He was a member of the house of delegates of Virginia, and of the state constitutional convention in 1788. He was elected to the United States senate, and served from De- cember 7, 1795, ^^ March 3, 1803. Mason became seriously involved during his sena- torial career, in connection with the Jay treaty. This treaty, negotiated by John Jay, was ratified in secret session by the smallest possible constitutional majority. It was forbidden by the senate that the treaty should be published, but Senator Mason did cause to be printed in a Phila- delphia newspaper, the ** Aurora," at first an abstract of the instrument and afterward a complete copy. This created great excite- ment, being applauded by the Republicans and attacked by the Federalists. Senator Mason was a warm personal friend of

Digitized by

Google