William Pinckney Mason
Encyclopedia
William Pinckney Mason (10 January 1843–16 December 1922) was a Lieutenant
in the Confederate States Navy
. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason
, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, and his wife Ann Eilbeck.
and was the youngest child of a large family born to Dr. Richard Chichester Mason
and his wife Lucy Bolling Randolph.
as an acting midshipman
on 19 April 1861. Mason enlisted in the Confederate States Navy
where he became an acting midshipman on 11 June 1861. On 7 January 1864, Mason was promoted to master in line of promotion and was made 2nd Lieutenant on 2 June 1864. Mason served on the CSS United States in 1861. Mason later served as commander of the CSS Beaufort
and CSS Virginia II
.
, Maryland
at the age of 80. He was buried after 16 December 1923 at Rockville Union Cemetery
.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, and his wife Ann Eilbeck.
Early life and education
Mason was born on 10 January 1843 in AlexandriaAlexandria, 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...
and was the youngest child of a large family born to 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:...
and his wife Lucy Bolling Randolph.
American Civil War
Mason resigned from the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an acting midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on 19 April 1861. Mason enlisted in the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
where he became an acting midshipman on 11 June 1861. On 7 January 1864, Mason was promoted to master in line of promotion and was made 2nd Lieutenant on 2 June 1864. Mason served on the CSS United States in 1861. Mason later served as commander of the CSS Beaufort
CSS Beaufort
The CSS Beaufort was an iron hull gunboat that served in North Carolina and Virginia during the Civil War.The Beaufort was originally called the Caledonia. She was built at the Pusey & Jones Company of Wilmington, Delaware in 1854. The Caledonia operated out of Edenton, North Carolina. In 1856...
and CSS Virginia II
CSS Virginia II
CSS Virginia II was a Confederate Navy steam-powered ironclad ram laid down in 1862 at the William Graves' shipyard in Richmond, Virginia. Acting Constructor William A. Graves, CSN, was the superintendent in charge of her building. In order to conserve scarce iron plating, he ordered the ship's...
.
Marriage and children
Mason married Elizabeth Ruthven McGill on 29 January 1873. He and Elizabeth had three children:- Wardlaw McGill Mason (1876–1936)
- Lucius Randolph Mason (28 January 1886–23 November 1984)
- Shirley Carter Mason Prescott (12 October 1891–21 March 1972)
Later life
After a brief illness, Mason died on 16 December 1922 at his residence in RockvilleRockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
at the age of 80. He was buried after 16 December 1923 at Rockville Union Cemetery
Rockville Union Cemetery
Rockville Cemetery was established in 1738 by the Anglican Prince George's Parish. It is the oldest burying ground in Rockville, Maryland and is located at 1350 Baltimore Road, adjacent to the Rockville Civic Center. Ownership changed in 1880 to the Rockville Cemetery Association...
.