Richard Barnes Mason

Richard Barnes Mason (January 16, 1797 – July 25, 1850) was a career officer in the United States Army and the fifth military governor of California before it became a U.S. state.

Early life
Mason was born at Lexington Plantation, Fairfax County, Virginia. He was the youngest son of George Mason V and his wife Elizabeth "Betsey" Mary Ann Barnes Hooe and the grandson of George Mason, one of the founding fathers of the United States.

Military career
Mason was commissioned into the Army in 1817 and served in the 1st U.S. Infantry during the Black Hawk War. In 1833, he transferred to the United States Dragoons as its first major. During the Mexican-American War, he served in New Mexico Territory and California, eventually rising to the rank of colonel.

Following the war, he was appointed military governor of California, serving from May 31, 1847, until April 13, 1849. When gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, Mason made a report of the finding to President James K. Polk.

Mason died in 1850 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Honours
In 1882, the Post at Point San Jose in San Francisco, California was renamed Fort Mason in his honour, and served as an Army base for more than 100 years. There is also a Mason Street in downtown San Francisco.

Marriage and children
Mason married Elizabeth Margaret Hunter on 28 January 1836. Richard and Elizabeth had three daughters:


 * Emma Twiggs Mason Wheaton (17 October 1836–16 February 1864)
 * Elizabeth Mary Ann Sally Mason (20 August 1838–19 November 1912)
 * Alice Graham Mason (c. 1843–10 February 1847)

Relations
Richard Barnes Mason was a grandson of George Mason (1725–1792); son of George Mason V (1753–1796); brother of George Mason VI (1786–1834); grandnephew of Thomson Mason (1733–1785); first cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason (1760–1803), John Thomson Mason (1765–1824), and William Temple Thomson Mason (1782–1862); first cousin of Thomson Francis Mason (1785–1838) and James Murray Mason (1798–1871); second cousin of Armistead Thomson Mason (1787–1819), John Thomson Mason (1787–1850), and John Thomson Mason, Jr. (1815–1873); and second cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason (1811–1843).

Research resources

 * Guide to the Richard Barnes Mason Papers at The Bancroft Library