James Brown Mason


James Brown Mason was an American physician and legislator who served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1804 to 1814, where he was speaker from 1812 to 1814. Elected to Congress in November 1814, he represented one of Rhode Island's two at-large congressional districts from 1815 until 1819.

Early life

Mason was born on January 28, 1775 in the small rural Connecticut town of Thompson. He was the son of John and Rose Anna Mason.
As a young man, James pursued classical studies and graduated from Providence's Brown University in 1791. He studied medicine and was admitted to practice.

Career

Mason moved to Charleston, South Carolina where he practiced medicine from 1795 to 1798. While in South Carolina, he met and married his first wife. Upon her death in 1798, he returned to Rhode Island.
In Providence, Rhode Island, James engaged in mercantile pursuits between 1798 and 1819. He served as a trustee of Brown University 1804-1819.

Political career

He served as member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1804 to 1814 and served as Speaker of the House from February 1812 to May 1814.
Mason was elected as a Federalist to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Congresses.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1818 to the Sixteenth Congress.

Personal life

On July 16, 1800, James married Alice Brown, the youngest daughter of John Brown and Sarah Brown. Her father was a wealthy merchant, slave trader, and statesman from Providence, Rhode Island, and a founder of Brown University. James and Alice's children were:
Six months after leaving Congress, Mason died in Providence at the age of 44 and was interred in North Burial Ground.

Descendants

Through his daughter Sarah, he was the grandfather of Alice Elmira Ruggles, Sarah Harriette Ruggles, George Benjamin Ruggles, John Mason Ruggles, Harriet Ruggles Eaton, Amasa Mason Eaton, Anna Grosvenor Eaton, and Frank Howe Eaton.
Through his daughter Rosa, he was the grandfather of William Grosvenor, James Brown Mason Grosvenor, Amasa Mason Grosvenor, Alice Mason Grosvenor Mason, Robert Grosvenor, Eliza Howe Grosvenor, and
Rosa Anne Grosvenor.