Mason, R. B. (Richard Barnes), 1797-1850

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Richard Barnes Mason, born in Virginia in 1797, was a Colonel in the United States Army when he arrived in 1847 in California to succeed Kearny as military governor. He was made a Brigadier General in 1848, and retained his position as governor until February 1849. He died of cholera in St. Louis in 1850.

From the description of Richard Barnes Mason papers, 1847-1848. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 26657368

Richard Barnes Mason (1797-1850) was a great-grandson of George Mason (1725-1792), the noted Virginia statesman of the Revolutionary era. Richard Barnes Mason rapidly advanced in the ranks of the army, being commissioned in 1817 as a second lieutenant and serving as captain of the 1st Infantry in the Black Hawk War (1832). Mason moved on, as lieutenant colonel, to take part in the conquest of New Mexico and California at the outset of the Mexican War. He then became the first military and civil governor of California, a post that he held until 1849.

George Mason ( - ), the brother of Richard Barnes Mason, remained in Virginia, occupied with the affairs of "Gunston Hall," the large Mason estate, built by his great-grandfather.

From the description of Papers, 1815-1824. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191259519

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Bankhead, James, d. 1856,. Letters pertaining to Virginia [manuscript], 1821-1867. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Thompson, J.D. Letter to Abel Stearns, 1847, August 11. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Mason, John. Papers, 1836-1865. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. Order and letters, 1848. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872. Letter and report : State Dept of California, Monterey, to Col. R.B. Mason commanding 10th Mil. Dept and Governor of California, 1849 Mar. 1. Newberry Library
creatorOf Mason, R. B. (Richard Barnes), 1797-1850. Richard Barnes Mason papers, 1847-1848. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn United States. Army. Military Dept., 10th. Report, 1849 Mar 1. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862. Letter : to General Mason, 1st dragoons / by Philip Kearny, 1849 Nov 1. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Biography clippings : "M" [surname] folder 1904-2003. Monterey Public Library
referencedIn Leidesdorff, William A. (William Alexander), 1810-1848. Papers of William A. Leidesdorff, 1840-1867. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn United States. War Dept. Letters, 1846-1847. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Mason, R. B. (Richard Barnes), 1797-1850. Papers, 1815-1824. Gadsden Public Library
creatorOf Mason, R.B. (Richard Barnes), 1797-1850. Correspondence regarding Texas Indians, 1841-1863. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Murrieta, Juan. Juan Murrieta diaries, record books, and family materials, c.1848-1990 (bulk 1848-1934) Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn United States. War Dept. Letter: to Colonel Richard B. Mason /by Secretary of War Marcy, 1846 Nov 3. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn San Francisco (Calif.). Petition, 1848? Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith California. Governor (1847-1849 : Mason) corporateBody
associatedWith Carleton, James Henry, 1814-1873, person
correspondedWith Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872. person
associatedWith Jones, R., person
associatedWith Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862. person
associatedWith Leidesdorff, William A. (William Alexander), 1810-1848. person
associatedWith Mason, George. person
associatedWith Mason, John. person
associatedWith McIntosh, Roly, person
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith Murrieta, Juan. person
associatedWith Norris, Thomas W. (Thomas Wayne). person
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Ross, John, 1790-1866, person
associatedWith San Francisco (Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. person
associatedWith Simmons, S.G., person
associatedWith Spencer, John Canfield, person
associatedWith Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850, person
associatedWith Thompson, J.D. person
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Military Dept., 10th. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. War Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Vann, Andrew M., person
associatedWith Walk-in-the-Water (Ship) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Missouri
Kentucky
United States
New Mexico
Wisconsin
California
Texas
Oklahoma
Indian Territory
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma
Subject
Slavery
Cherokee Indians
Comanche Indians
Creek Indians
Dueling
Gold mines and mining
Governor
Indians of North America
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Real estate investment
Slaves
Slave trade
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1797-01-16

Death 1850-07-25

Spanish; Castilian,

English

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