Nicolle steins biography of george mason

George Mason December 11, [ O. November 30, ] — October 7, was an American planter , politician, Founding Father , and delegate to the U. Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in , where he was one of three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution.

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His writings, including substantial portions of the Fairfax Resolves of , the Virginia Declaration of Rights of , and his Objections to this Constitution of Government opposing ratification, have exercised a significant influence on American political thought and events. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, which Mason principally authored, served as a basis for the United States Bill of Rights , of which he has been deemed a father.

Mason was born in in present-day Fairfax County, Virginia. His father drowned when a storm capsized his boat while crossing the Potomac River in when Mason was about nine years old. His mother managed the family estates until he came of age. In , Mason married, built Gunston Hall , and lived the life of a country squire , supervising his lands, family, and slaves.

He briefly served in the House of Burgesses and involved himself in community affairs, sometimes serving with his neighbor George Washington. As tensions grew between Great Britain and the North American colonies, Mason came to support the colonial side, using his knowledge and experience to help the revolutionary cause, finding ways to work around the Stamp Act and serving in the pro-independence Fourth Virginia Convention in and the Fifth Virginia Convention in Mason prepared the first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in , and his words formed much of the text adopted by the final Revolutionary Virginia Convention.