Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/309

 MASON

MASON

established the Christian Magazine in January, 1807, and edited it for several years. He resigned Iiis pastorate in 1810, formed a new congregation, and while a new church was being built held meetings in the Presbyterian church on Cedar street ; this action resulted in a charge being brought against him at the meeting of the synod in Pliiladelphia in 1811, but the synod refused to censure him. He was a trustee of Columbia col- lege, 1795-1821, and provost, 1811-16 ; travelled in France, Italy and Switzerland, 1816-17, and re- signed his pastoral duties in February, 1821, on account of his increasing infirmities. He was president of Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., 1821-24. and in 1822 transferred his relations from the Associate Reformed church to the Presbytery of New York, and returned to New York city in 1824. He received the degree of A.M. from the College of New Jersey in 1794, and that of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1804. He is the author of many essays, orations and sermons and of : Letter on Frequent Communion (1798) ; .4 Plea for Sacramental Communion on Catholic Principles (1816). His son, Ebenezer Mason, prepared The Writings of the late John M. Mason (4 vols., 1832) ; and his son-in-law, the Rev. Jacob Van Vechten, D.D., Memones of John M. Mason, D.D. (2 vols., 1836). He died in New York city, Dec. 26, 1829.

MASON, John Sanford, soldier, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1824. He was grad- uated at the U.S. Military academy in 1847 and was assigned to the 3d artillery as 2d lieutenant. He was in the Mexican war, 1847-48, and was com- missioned 1st lieutenant Sept. 7, 1850, and captain, and assigned to the 11th infantry May 14, 1861. He was commissioned colonel of the 4th Ohio volunteers Oct. 3, 1861, and his regiment was as- signed to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 2d army corps, and in the battle of Fredericksburg he com- manded the brigade after Gen. Nathan Kimball was wounded. He was brevetted major, Sept. 17, 1862, for Antietam, lieutenant-colonel, Dec. 13, 1862. for Fredericksburg, and colonel and brigadier-general, March 13, 1865, for "gallant and meritorious services during the war " and ** in the field." He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers Nov. 29, 1862, and accepted his commission Jan. 9, 1863. He was mustered out of the volunteer service April 30, 1866. He was promoted major, 17th infantry Oct. 14, 1864, transferred to the 35th infantry Sept. 21, 1866, to the 15th infantry March 15. 1869; he was promoted lieutenant-colonel 4th infan- try Dae. 11, 1873, transferred to the 20th in- fantry Feb. 25, 1881, be<'ame colonel of the 9th infantry April 2, 1883 and was retired by opera- tion of law Aug. 21, 1888. He died in Washing- ton, D.C., Nov. 29, 1897.

MASON, John Young, cabinet oflRcer, was born in Greeneaville county, Va., April 18, 1799. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1816; studied law in Litchfield, Conn., 1816- 19 ; was admitted to the bar in 1819, and settled in practice in Hicksford, Va. He represented Southami>ton county in the Virginia legislature, 1819-29 ; was a judge of the superior court, 1829- 81 ; a member of the state constitutional con- vention in 1829 ; a representative from Virginia in the 22d, 23d and 24th congresses, 1831-37, where he was chairman of the committee on foreign affairs. He resigned Jan. 11, 1837, having been appointed by President Van Buren judge of the U.S. district court for the di.-.trict of Virginia, and served 1837-44. He was appointed secretary of the navy by President Tyler, March 14, 1844, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas W. Gilmer and served until the close of Tyler's administration. He was appointed attorney- general in the cabinet of President Polk March 5,

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1845 ; was transferred to tlie navy department as successor to George Bancroft, resigned, Sept. 9, 1846, and served until March 3, 1849. He was a lawyer in Richmond, Va., 1849-54 ; president of the state constitutional convention in 1850, and U.S. minister to France, 1854-59. He received an LL.D. from the University of North Carolina, 1845. He died in Paris, France, Oct. 3, 1859.

MASON, Jonathan, senator, was born in Bos- ton, Mass., Aug. 30, 1752 ; son of Deacon Jona- than Mason of the Old South church. He pre- pared for college at the Boston Latin school ; was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1774 ; studied law under John Adams, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1777, practising in Boston, 1777-1831. He was one of the ninety- six attestators of the Boston Massacre, being in King street, Boston, on the evening of March 5, 1770, about ten o'clock, where he overheard the conversiition between the lieutenant-governor and Captain Preston, an officer of the king's troops. He delivered the official oration l)efore the authorities of Boston on the tenth anni- versery of the massacre, March 5. 1780. He was married, April 13, 1779, to Susanna, daughter of