Richard Nelson Mason
Encyclopedia
Richard Nelson Mason was a prominent American educator and businessperson in Washington, D.C.
Mason was a great-great-grandson of Founding Father of the United States
George Mason
and his wife Ann Eilbeck.
, Virginia
on 26 June 1876. Mason was the only son of Beverley Randolph Mason
and his wife Elizabeth Harrison Nelson. Mason was named after his grandfather, Dr. Richard Chichester Mason
.
Mason's parents began a school for the education of himself, his sisters, and his parents' friends' children. Mason and his siblings were first raised an educated at a residence at 3017 O Street, N.W. in Georgetown
. Mason's parents named the school Gunston Hall school for Mason's great-great-grandfather George Mason. As Gunston Hall School grew, it became an institution of higher learning for girls and young ladies.
Mason was an educator at and later become the business manager of the Gunston Hall School after it moved to its final location at 1906 Florida Avenue, N.W.
near 19th and T Streets. Mason's management maintained the school's tradition and continued its high ranking among private schools for young ladies in the United States.
on 27 May 1915, due to his descent from his great-grandfather, Robert Randolph (1759–1825). Randolph served as an ensign (1775), lieutenant (14 June 1777), and captain in Baylor's Dragoons, Virginia Troops, and aide-de-camp to General Anthony Wayne
. Following the American Revolutionary War
, Randolph became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
.
Mason continued his role as business manager of the Gunston Hall School until his death. Mason died on 22 November 1940 at Garfield Hospital in Washington, D.C.
. He was interred on 25 November 1940 at Ivy Hill Cemetery
in Alexandria
, Virginia.
During World War II
, Gunston Hall School closed and was re-opened at Gunston Neck
, Virginia by Mason's four sisters in 1962.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Mason was a great-great-grandson of Founding Father of the United States
Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
and his wife Ann Eilbeck.
Early life
Richard Nelson Mason was born in CulpeperCulpeper, Virginia
Culpeper is an incorporated town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Culpeper County. Culpeper is part of the Culpeper Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Culpeper County. Both the Town of Culpeper and...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on 26 June 1876. Mason was the only son of Beverley Randolph Mason
Beverley Randolph Mason
Beverley Randolph Mason was a renowned educator and founder and principal of the Gunston Hall School for young women in Washington, D.C. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights....
and his wife Elizabeth Harrison Nelson. Mason was named after his grandfather, Dr. Richard Chichester Mason
Richard Chichester Mason
Richard Chichester Mason was a prominent physician practicing in Alexandria, Virginia. Mason was a grandson of George Mason and his wife Ann Eilbeck.-Early life and education:...
.
Mason's parents began a school for the education of himself, his sisters, and his parents' friends' children. Mason and his siblings were first raised an educated at a residence at 3017 O Street, N.W. in Georgetown
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
. Mason's parents named the school Gunston Hall school for Mason's great-great-grandfather George Mason. As Gunston Hall School grew, it became an institution of higher learning for girls and young ladies.
Marriage and children
Mason married Blanche Andrews on 31 October 1925. He and Blanche had one daughter:- Elizabeth Nelson Mason Nial (born 27 November 1935)
- ∞ Thomas Lewis Nial (1955)
Education career
Florida Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Florida Avenue is a major street in Washington, D.C. It was originally named Boundary Street, because it formed the northern boundary of Pierre L'Enfant's original plan for the Federal City...
near 19th and T Streets. Mason's management maintained the school's tradition and continued its high ranking among private schools for young ladies in the United States.
Later life
Mason was elected into the Sons of the American RevolutionSons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
on 27 May 1915, due to his descent from his great-grandfather, Robert Randolph (1759–1825). Randolph served as an ensign (1775), lieutenant (14 June 1777), and captain in Baylor's Dragoons, Virginia Troops, and aide-de-camp to General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
. Following the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, Randolph became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
.
Mason continued his role as business manager of the Gunston Hall School until his death. Mason died on 22 November 1940 at Garfield Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was interred on 25 November 1940 at Ivy Hill Cemetery
Ivy Hill Cemetery
Ivy Hill Cemetery is a cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. Burials began in 1811, and it received a charter as a community cemetery in 1856....
in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, Virginia.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gunston Hall School closed and was re-opened at Gunston Neck
Mason Neck, Virginia
Mason Neck is a peninsula jutting into the Potomac River to the south of Washington, DC. It is surrounded also by Belmont Bay to the west, Gunston Cove to the east, and Pohick Bay to the northeast...
, Virginia by Mason's four sisters in 1962.