Home > George Mason
George Mason ( 1725- 1792) was a United States patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention. He is nicknamed the "Father of the Bill of Rights".Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which specified specific
rights of citizens. He was later a leader of those who pressed for the addition of explicitly stated individual rights as part of the U.S. Constitution. His efforts eventually succeeded in convincing the Federalists
(such as James Madison) to modify the Constitution and add the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the Constitution). The Bill of Rights is based on Mason's earlier Virginia Declaration of Rights. The French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was also
based on George Mason's work.
George Mason was born on December 11, 1725, at the Mason family plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia. His father died in 1735 in a boating accident.
On April 4, 1750Events March 2 Small earthquake in London April 4 Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway i, he married Ann Eilbeck from a plantation in Charles County, MarylandCharles County is a county in the east central portion of the U. State of Maryland. As of 2000, the population is 120,546. Its county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert ( 1637- 1715), third Lord Baltimore. Calvert lived in Maryland. They lived in a house on George's property in Dogue's Neck, Virginia. Mason completed construction of Gunston Hall (a plantation house
on the Potomac River) in 1759Events January 11 In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first American life insurance company is incorporated. January 13 The Tavora family is executed following the accusation of attempted regicide on Joseph I of Portugal January 15 The British Museum opens. Unfortunately, on March 9March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). There are 297 days remaining. Events 1841 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Amistad case that the Africans who seized control of the ship had been taken, 1773Events January 12 The first American museum open to the public is opened in ( Charleston, South Carolina). January 17 Captain James Cook becomes the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle April 27 or May 10 The British Parliament passes the, his wife died.
Mason served at the Virginia Convention in Williamsburg in 1776This article is about the year 1776. For the musical, see 1776 (musical Events January 10 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense March 17 American Revolutionary War: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts after George Washington places artillery overl. During this time he created drafts of the first declaration of rights and state constitution in the Colonies. Both were adopted after committee alterations;
the Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted June 12June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. Events 1381 Peasants' Revolt: In England rebels arrive at Blackheath. 1653 First Anglo-Dutch War: Battle of the Gabbard lasted until June 13., 1776, and the
Virginia Constitution was adopted June 29June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. Events 1613 The Globe Theatre burns to the ground. 1749 New Governor, Charles de la Raliere Des Herbiers, arrives at Isle Royale ( Cape Breton I, 1776.
The George Mason National Memorial
Mason was appointed in 1786 to represent Virginia as a delegate to a Federal Convention, to meet in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. He served at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia from May to September 1787 and contributed significantly to the formation of the Constitution. However, he would not sign the Constitution for a number of reasons; the very first of his objections was that the original Constitution failed to contain a "declaration of rights". Mason continued to agitate for the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution after the convention. This agitation cost Mason his long friendship with George Washington, and is probably a leading reason why George Mason became less well-known than other U.S. founding fathers in later years. On December 15, 1791, the U.S. Bill of Rights, based primarily on George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights, was ratified in response to the agitation of Mason and others.
Mason died at his home, Gunston Hall, on October 7, 1792. Gunston Hall, located in Mason Neck, Virginia, is now a tourist attraction.
The George Mason National Memorial is located in East Potomac Park, Washington, DC, near the Thomas Jefferson Memorial; it was dedicated on April 9, 2002. A major bridge connecting Washington, DC, to Virginia is officially named the George Mason Memorial Bridge
(it is part of the 14th Street bridge complex).
George Mason University is named in his honor.
