George Mason

Date of Birth: December 11, 1725

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: October 7, 1792

Biography

George Mason was an influential American statesman and a Founding Father of the United States. Born on December 11, 1725, in Fairfax County, Virginia, Mason played a pivotal role in the early formation of the United States government. He is best known for his authorship of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights. A staunch advocate for individual liberties, Mason’s contributions to American political thought have had a lasting impact. Mason was a wealthy plantation owner and a leader in Virginia politics. He served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 but ultimately refused to sign the U.S. Constitution because it lacked a Bill of Rights. His insistence on the inclusion of a Bill of Rights earned him the title “Father of the Bill of Rights.” Throughout his life, Mason was deeply committed to the principles of personal freedom and limited government. He retired from public life in 1789 and spent his remaining years at his plantation, Gunston Hall, in Fairfax County. George Mason died on October 7, 1792.

5 Interesting Facts about George Mason

1. George Mason authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776, which influenced many later documents, including the U.S. Bill of Rights.

2. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 but refused to sign the final document because it did not initially include a Bill of Rights.

3. Mason was a prominent advocate for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, despite being a slave owner himself.

4. His plantation, Gunston Hall, is now a museum and National Historic Landmark.

5. Mason’s ideas about individual rights and government limitations have had a significant influence on American political philosophy.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Mason

1. “All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural rights.”

2. “Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact, therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.”

3. “To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”

4. “A government of laws, and not of men.”

5. “That no free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

George Mason’s highest net worth is difficult to quantify in modern terms, but as a wealthy plantation owner, he was one of the wealthiest individuals in Virginia during his lifetime.

Children

George Mason had nine children with his wife Ann Eilbeck. Their names were George Mason V, William Mason, Thomson Mason, John Mason, Richard Mason, Thomas Mason, Ann Mason, Mary Mason, and Sarah Mason.