Magna Carta: This document, written by a group of English barons who were tired of heavy taxes and arbitrary actions by the king, established the principle that the monarch's power is not absolute. Magna Carta eventually became a basic document of the British Constitution, and although not originally intended to do so, it came to represent democracy and universal protection of ancient liberties. These beliefs were incorporated into the writings and beliefs of the Enlightenment philosophers, from which George Mason and other colonists drew heavily when declaring independence and establishing their own state and national governments.
1632-1704
John Locke was an English philosopher whose writings greatly influenced George Mason and his contemporaries. Locke was a part of the Enlightenment, and he argued that the government's sole purpose was to protect the natural rights, liberty, and property of the people. Furthermore, government had a contract with the people, and if it broke that contract, the people had a right to rebel. These ideas became the cornerstone for the colonies' cries for independence, and also for the new government they eventually established.
1689
English Bill of Rights This document was an act of Parliament that guaranteed the right of British subjects to petition the king and to bear arms, and also prohibited excessive bails and fines and cruel and unusual punishment. This document became part of the British Constitution, and also set a precedent upon which Enlightenment philosophers, and subsequently Mason and other American colonists, based their claims for individual rights and liberties.
1725
11 December. George Mason of Gunston Hall was born at Mason family plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia.
1735
Father died in boating accident.
1746
Came of age to assume responsibility for extensive land holdings he inherited in Virginia and Maryland.
1748
Unsuccessfully sought seat as Fairfax County delegate to Virginia House of Burgesses
1749
Elected vestryman of Truro Parish. Broadened land speculation interests by becoming partner in the Ohio Company (an organization that invested in land located in the Ohio River Valley).
1750
4 April. Married Ann Eilbeck from a plantation in Charles County, Maryland. They lived in a house on George's property in Dogue's Neck, Virginia.
1751
Appointed treasurer of reorganized Ohio Company, serving until he died. He spent much of his life attempting to recover disputed land claims for the company.
1754
The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) began when George Washington faced French forces at the forks of the Ohio River.
1758
Mason was appointed to represent Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Burgesses and served until 1761.
1759
Completed construction of Gunston Hall, plantation house on the Potomac River.
1763
10 February. Peace of Paris Treaty ended French and Indian War. 7 October. Proclamation of 1763 which forbid land claims and settlement west of boundary line marked by Appalachians.
1765-66
Mason active in protest of Stamp Act. Wrote letter to London Public Ledgeropposing British actions and signed it, "A Virginia Planter."
1769
Helped to write nonimportation agreements as resistance measure against British Parliamentary taxation. Under these agreements, colonial citizens vowed to boycott British goods until their complaints were answered.
July. Served on the Fairfax County Committee of Safety and oversaw the formation of an independent militia company for Virginia. 18 July. Mason wrote Fairfax Resolves (with assistance from George Washington and others) stating actions to be taken against British aggression.
1775
May. Chosen as a Fairfax County delegate to the Virginia Convention. April 19. Fighting between the Colonies and Great Britain began in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, initiating the War for Independence.
1776
Mason served in Virginia Convention in Williamsburg. Prepared drafts of the first declaration of rights and state constitution in the Colonies. Both were adopted after committee alterations. 12 June.Virginia Declaration of Rights. 29 June. Virginia Constitution.
Mason continued to represent Fairfax County in Virginia's House of Delegates (the new government created by Virginia's Constitution), and assumed major responsibility for laws needed to continue the war.
1780
Married Sarah Brent of Stafford County, Virginia.
1781
Owing to poor health, Mason withdrew from legislature. 27 February. Maryland became last state to ratify Articles of Confederation. 1 March. Articles took full effect. Fall. Mason helped to provide supplies to troops moving toward Yorktown for the final Revolutionary battle. 19 October. British General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington ending hostilities of the American Revolution.
1782
Mason returned to private business matters.
1784
Mason appointed to serve on a Virginia-Maryland commission to settle navigation questions on the Potomac River.
1786
Appointed to represent Virginia as a delegate to a Federal Convention, to meet in Philadelphia in May, 1787, for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.
1787
May to October. Served at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia and contributed greatly to the formation of the Constitution. He would not, however, sign the Constitution for several reasons. He provided a list of objections to explain why.
1788
3 June-27 June. Attended Virginia ratifying convention as a delegate from Stafford County. Opposed ratification and called for a second federal convention. July-August. Retired from active politics and spent time assisting sons with business ventures.
25 March. Mason was appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate, but because of poor health, decided not to serve.
1791
15 December.U.S. Bill of Rights, based largely on George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights, was ratified.
1792
Corresponded with U.S. Senator James Monroe on national politics. August-September. In spite of increasing poor health, welcomed Thomas Jefferson to Gunston Hall; recounted events of the Federal Convention. 7 October. George Mason died on a peaceful Sunday afternoon at Gunston Hall.
George Mason & the American Revolution
1763
7 October. British Parliament announced Proclamation of 1763 that established a boundary line along the Appalachian Mountains, beyond which colonists could not claim land or settle.
1764
5 April. Passage of Revenue Act (or Sugar Act) that imposed various import duties on foreign cloth, sugar, indigo, and coffee brought into the colonies. 19 April. Passage of Currency Act that prohibited plantation colonies (those south of New York) from issuing paper money. 18 December. In an address to the King, the Virginia General Assembly declared that only the House of Burgesses had the right to tax Virginians.
1765
22 March. Passage of Stamp Act that required purchase of tax stamps to be affixed to newspapers, pamphlets, documents, playing cards, licenses, dice, etc. 15 May. Quartering Act became law. It required colonies to provide food and lodging for British Soldiers. Summer. Colonies reacted to Stamp Act by adopting resolutions protesting the taxation policy, boycotting all stamped paper, and by forming mobs to intimidate those who tried to collect taxes, and who did not comply with resistance. 23 December. George Mason became active in Colonial protest by devising a way for landlords to evade stamp taxes.
1766
18 March. British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but the colonies did not hear of the repeal until May. British Parliament also passed the Declaratory Act that stated Parliament's right to make laws for the colonies. 6 June. George Mason wrote a letter to the London Public Ledger in response to a letter published by London merchants that had attacked colonial actions. Mason defended the Colonies and opposed British actions. He signed it, "A Virginia Planter."
1767
29 June. Passage of Townshend Revenue Acts that imposed import duties on British glass, red and white lead, painter's colors, paper, and tea; reorganized the Board of Customs Commisioners stationed in Boston to collect the taxes and enforce other revenue measures; and suspended the New York Assembly for not complying with Quartering Act.
1768
11 February. Massacchusetts General Assembly announced Samuel Adams' Circular Letter. It called for colonies to join in resisting Great Britain's recent policies. It also stated that British Parliament did not have the right to tax the colonies soley for revenues. 3 March. Virginia's Royal Governor, Francis Faquier, died. John Blair, president of the Council, served as acting governor until the appointment and arrival of Governor Botetourt. 16 April. The Virginia General Assembly supported Massachusetts' Circular Letter and adopted memorials to the King and Parliament protesting the Townshend Acts. 21 April. Earl of Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the colonies, ordered all governors to dissolve their assemblies rather than allow them to support the Circular Letter. 25 October. Virginia's new Governor, Lord Botetourt, arrived in Williamsburg.
1769
16 May. The Virginia House of Burgesses passed resolves that upheld their exclusive right to levy taxes, to redress grievances, and to concur with other colonies. 17 May. Lord Botetourt dissolved the House of Burgesses for its formal resolutions against the British taxes and other policies, but the suspended members reconvened at the Raleigh Tavern. 18 May. George Washington presented to the Burgesses nonimportation resolutions that had been prepared by George Mason. These resolutions, adopted by the Burgesses as the Virginia Association, declared that colonial citizens vowed to boycott British goods until their grievances were redressed.
1770
5 March. Boston Massacre occurred when a crowd of colonists gathered around British Troops guarding the Customs House. The colonists began taunting the troops and throwing snowballs, tensions mounted, and the scene turned to chaos. At some point, the panicked soldiers opened fire, killing three men and wounding others, some fatally. 12 April. British Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts, but retained tax on tea. 22 June. The Virginia House of Burgesses (that had been called back into session by Lord Botetourt in Nov. 1769) updated the Nonimportation Association, and this time included merchants. 15 October. Death of Governor Botetourt. William Nelson of Yorktown acted as governor until Dunmore was appointed.
1771
18 July. George Mason and George Washington recommended that non-importation be abandoned, except for those goods still taxed by parliament. Other colonies were doing, the same and trade returned to normal. September. A Boston town meeting formed a Committee of Correspondence to instruct and arouse the public. (Bostonians were upset that custom revenues and other taxes were used to pay superior court justices and Crown officials in Massachusetts.) They sent appeals to other colonies to do the same. 25 September. Lord Dunmore, the new governor of Virginia, arrived in Williamsburg.
1771-1773
Committees of Correspondence formed in other colonies as suspicions about Great Britain's next policies escalated.
1772
9 June. The Gaspee incident occurred when the royal customs schooner Gaspee, which had been harassing small trading vessels along the New England coast, ran aground on Namquit Bar, near Providence. That night, eight boatloads of colonists boarded the ship, wounded the commander and overpowered the crew. They brought everyone to shore and then let the ship burn to the water's edge.
1773
12 March. The Virginia House of Burgesses called for a Committee of Intercolonial Correspondence, becoming the first colony to propose formal communication among the colonies. 10 May. Passage of Tea Act that gave the East India Company a monopoly on tea imported by the colonists (tea that still had the Townshend duty) and reasserted British Parliament's right to tax colonies. 16 December. Boston Tea Party: in response to the Tea Act a group of Bostonians, dressed as Indians, boarded three vessels and threw the cargo of tea into the harbor. Similar incidents occurred in other colonies.
1774
31 March. Passage of a series of acts known as the Coercive or Intolerable Acts, as a punishment for the Boston Tea Party. These acts closed the port of Boston, restricted Massachusetts government and town meetings, and quartered British troops in Boston. 24 May. The Virginia House of Burgesses adopted a resolution naming June 1, the day the port of Boston was to be closed, a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer in Virginia. 27 May. Virginia's royal governor, Lord Dunmore, dissolved the General Assembly. The Burgesses reconvened at the Raleigh Tavern and proposed an annual "general congress" of the colonies. They also formed a new non-importation association. 17 June. Massachusetts called for a Continental Congress. All colonies except Georgia began electing delegates. 18 July. Fairfax County Resolves were written by George Mason, George Washington, and others, in response to the Intolerable Acts, at a meeting of Fairfax County freeholders. These resolves, more detailed than most, stated the colonies' grievances as well as actions to be taken against British aggression.
At this meeting, George Mason was appointed to the Fairfax County Committee of Safety (emergency committee created to enforce the Fairfax Resolves) where he oversaw the enrollment of the Fairfax Independent Company of militiamen. He served on this body throughout the war. 1-6 August. The first Virginia Convention, made up of former Burgesses, met in Williamsburg. Delegates adopted resolves against British goods and elected delegates to the first Continental Congress. George Mason was appointed but declined to serve. 1 September. Meeting of the First Continental Congress where delegates agreed to boycott all British Goods, to send petitions of grievances to the king, and to meet again in the coming year.
1775
20-27 March. The Second Virginia Convention assembled in Richmond. On Mar. 23, they heard Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. They also made provisions for county militias and elected delegates to the second Continental Congress. 19 April. Shots exchanged between British Soldiers and colonists at Lexington and Concord; American Revolution officially began. 10 May. Second Continental Congress convened; placed George Washington in charge of Continental Army on 15 June. 8 June. Lord Dunmore and his family fled from Virginia, leaving the colony without a government. 17 July. The Third Virginia Convention met in Richmond. George Mason represented Fairfax County as the replacement for George Washington (who had been chosen to represent Virginia at the second Continental Congress). The convention appointed a Committee of Safety in charge of raising a militia for Virginia's defense, and responsible for carrying out basic executive functions. 25 August. George Mason was appointed to serve at Second Continental Congress (again in George Washington's place) but declined. Instead he was appointed to the Virginia Committee of Safety. 5 December. The Fourth Virginia Convention convened in Williamsburg. Dealt mostly with military issues and preparations.
1776
20 January. Fourth Virginia Convention adjourned. 6 May. Fifth Virginia Convention assembled in Williamsburg. 15 May. Congress recommended that colonies establish new governments. Virginia convention instructed its Continental Congress delegates to propose independence and named a committee to compose a declaration of rights and constitution. 20-26 May. George Mason headed this committee and submitted first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. 27 May. Committee added onto Mason's draft and submitted it to the Convention. 7 June. Richard Henry Lee, representing Virginia at Second Continental Congress, proposed a resolution formally declaring the colonies independent. 8-10 June. George Mason wrote a draft of a constitution for Virginia. 12 June. Final draft of Virginia Declaration of Rights was passed. 24 June. Mason's draft of Constitution was submitted to Convention for revision. 29 June. Revised draft of Mason's Virginia Constitution was adopted by Virginia Convention. 2 July. Continental Congress adopted Richard Henry Lee's proposal calling for independence. 4 July. Declaration of Independence was formally announced to the world. 5 July. Virginia Convention adopted a seal for the Commonwealth, designed by George Mason, Richard Henry Lee, and others, and adjourned. The Virginia Committee of Safety was dissolved. Fall. Mason continued to head the Fairfax County Committee of Safety, expediting the accumulation of military supplies. October. The newly created House of Delegates (composed of the same delegates as the fifth Virginia Convention) convened in Williamsburg. Mason was appointed to a committee to revise Virginia's laws as needed.
1777
22 May. Although Mason was too sick to attend the Assembly session that spring, he was chosen a member of the Virginia delegation to Congress. He declined, however, due to "domestic affairs." He spent the next three years attending Assembly sessions when he could, and serving on Fairfax County's Committee of Safety. Mason retired from public office at the end of 1780. 17 November. Second Continental Congress passed Articles of Confederation.
1781
27 February. Maryland became last colony to ratify Articles of Confederation. Fall. George Mason helped to provide supplies to Colonial troops moving towards Yorktown for the final Revolutionary battle. 17 October. General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending hostilities of the American Revolution.
1783
Treaty of Paris between Great Britain and the United States formally ended the American Revolution.
Federal Convention of 1787
May 17
Arrived in Philadelphia as one of the delegates appointed to represent Virginia during the Federal Convention. Delegates included Washington and James Madison.
May 28
Made the first of his reported 136 speeches on the convention floor.
May 30
Favored a total revision of the Articles of Confederation.
May 31
Supported a proposal for popular election of the lower house of Congress.
June 1
Supported a National Executive directely elected by the people, with a term of office of seven years and no chance for reelection.
June 4
Drafted a speech stating the advantages of vesting executive power in three persons.
June 6
Favored direct election of Representatives by the people, rather than by state legislatures.
Supported a check on Congress by not allowing both the power of the purse and the sword to fall under one branch.
June 21
Again spoke in favor of allowing the people to directly elect Representatives.
June 22
Spoke on the importance of disqualifying legislators from holding other public offices.
July 2
Appointed to a committee to work out a compromise on representation in Congress.
July 11
Argued that representation in the lower house should be based on population.
July 17
Opposed direct election of Chief Executive and presidential tenure "during good behavior."
July 18
Favored giving Congress, rather than the Chief Executive, the power of appointing Federal Judges.
July 20
Supported the impeachment power as a check on the Chief Executive.
July 23
Spoke in favor of allowing the people, rather than the state legislatures, to ratify the new Constitution.
July 25
Supported a motion to limit the Chief Executive's tenure.
July 26
Opposed locating the national capital in the seat of any state government.
Aug. 8
Argued that tax and appropriation bills should originate in the lower house of Congress.
Aug. 9
Argued again that money bills should originate in the lower house of Congress, not in the Senate.
Aug. 11
Argued that publication of the proceedings of Congress should be mandatory.
Aug. 13
Insisted again that tax and appropriation powers should lie exclusively with the lower branch.
Aug. 17
Argued that Congress rather than the President should have the power to declare war.
Aug. 18
Argued that Congress should regulate the national militia and hoped there would be no standing army in time of peace.
Aug. 20
Motioned that Congress be able to enact sumptuary laws (laws that would discourage and punish drinking, gambling, and other undesireable public behavior.)
Aug. 22
Opposed the slave trade, stating that it began out of "the avarice of the British merchants."
Aug. 29
Argued that if a simple majority in Congress, rather than a two-thirds majority, regulated trade, Southern interests would be in jeopardy.
Aug. 31
Announced that he "would sooner chop off his right hand than put it to the Constitution as it now stands."
Sept. 7
Suggested creating a council of state, with two members from each section of the country advising the president. Motion defeated.
Sept. 12
Offered to write a bill of rights, saying that this "would give great quiet to the people." Idea rejected unanimously.
Sept. 15
Joined fellow Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph in recommending a second federal convention. Idea rejected unanimously.
