MASON, GEORGE, 1726-92; b. at Doeg's Neck, Fairfax co., Va. ; a descendant of col. George Mason who was a member of the English parliament in tbe reign of Charles I.; settled in Truro parish; built Gunstan hall on the Potomac, and became the inthnate friend of Washington, for whom he drafted the " non-haaportation resolutions," which were offered by Washington, and adopted by the Virginia assembly in 1769. One of these was that the Virginia planters should purchase no slaves imported after Nov. 1. of that year. At a meeting of the people of Fairfax, July 18, 1774, he offered 24 resolutions on questions at issue between Great Britian and the colonies,which were sanctioned by the Virginia convention in August, and reaffirmed by the continental congress in October of the same year. In 1775 he was a member of the Virginia convention. In May, 1776, he drafted the declaration of rights and the plan ot government, which were adopted by a unanimous vote. He was a member of the continental convention in
1777, and of tly, constitutional convention in 1787, taking decided ground against all measures tending to perpetuate slavery. He disapproved of the proposed instrument and refused to sign it, declaring that it would " result in a monarchy or a tyrannical aristocracy." He was a member of the convention called to consider the federal consti tution, and with Patrick Henry, opposed it, insisting on 20 alterations. Some of these were afterwards adopted by congress and the states. He was elected the first United. States senator from Virginia, but declined. His statue stands with those of Washing ton, Jefferson, Henry, and other distinguished Virginians in front of the state capitol at Richmond.