In the year 1725, George and Ann Thomson Mason bore a son, whom they named George Mason. At the age of 10, George’s father died. His upbringing was left in the care of his uncle, John Mercer. The future jurist’s education was largely formed by the contents of his uncle’s 1500-volume library, one-third of which concerned the law.

Biography and Career:

George Mason was one of the richest planters in Virginia. He owned the Gunston Hall. With that, he was able to establish himself as an important figure and got the respect of this community. In 1750, he married Anne Eilbeck. During the 23 years of their marriage, they were gifted five sons and four daughters.

In 1752, George Mason bought an interest in the Ohio Company, an organization the speculated in western lands. When the crown revoked the company’s rights in 1773, Mason, the company’s treasurer, wrote his first major state paper, Extracts from the Virginia Charters, with Some Remarks upon Them.

During these years, George Mason also pursued his political interests. At the Fairfax County court, he became a justice. Between 1754 and 1779, Mason was a trustee of the city of Alexandria. By 1759, Mason was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. When the Stamp Act of 1765 aroused outrage in the colonies, Mason wrote an open letter explaining the colonists’ position to a committee of London Merchants to enlist their support.

By 1774, Mason was again at the forefront of political events. He assisted in the drawing up of the Fairfax Resolves, a document that outlined the colonists’ constitutional ground for their objections to the Boston Port Act. In 1776, George Mason framed Virginia’s Declaration of Rights. This was widely copied in other colonies. It also served as a model for Thomas Jefferson in the first part of the Declaration of Independence, and was the basis for the federal Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

The years between 1776 and 1780 were filled with great legislative activity. The abilities of individuals, like George Mason, were needed at the time when the country was establishing a government independent of Great Britain. He supported the disestablishment of the church and was active in the organization of military affairs, especially in the West. The influence of his early work, Extracts from the Virginia Charters, is seen in the 1783 peace treaty with Great Britain. This fixed the Anglo-American boundary at the Great Lakes instead of the Ohio River. After the independence, Mason drew up the plan for Virginia’s cession of its western lands to the United States.

By the early 1780’s, George Mason grew disgusted and frustrated with the conduct of public affairs and retired. In 1780, he married his second wife, Sarah Brent. He attended the Mount Vernon meeting of 1785, which was a prelude to the Annapolis convention of 1786. Though he was appointed, he did not go to Annapolis

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787 held at Philadelphia, Mason was one of the five most frequent speakers. He exerted great influence to the audience. However, during the last two weeks of the convention, he decided not to sign the document.

His refusal generated surprise to the general public, especially since his name is so closely linked to constitutionalism. He explained his reasons at great length. He cited the absence of a declaration of rights as his primary concern. He, then, discussed the provisions of the Constitution point by point, beginning with the House of Representatives. The House, he criticizes, as not truly representative of the nation, and the Senate as too powerful. He also said that the power of the federal judiciary would destroy the state judiciaries, render justice unattainable and enable the rich to oppress and ruin the poor. These concerns and fears led Mason to conclude that the new government was destined to either become a monarchy or fall into the hands of a corrupt, and oppressive aristocracy.

His concerns were heard and two were incorporated into the Constitution. His primary objection regarding the declaration of rights were answered by the Bill of Rights and the 11^th amendment addressed his call for strictures on the judiciary.

The rule of reason and the centrality of the natural rights of man were the he beliefs that guided Mason throughout his career. He approached problems and issues rationally and impersonally. In recognition of his accomplishments and dedication to the principles of the Age of Reason, Mason has been called the American Manifestation of the Enlightenment. On October 7, 1792, George Mason died. He was buried on the grounds of Gunston Hall.