John Mason (1503-1566)

John Mason
Painting of Sir John Mason attributed to Sampson Strong, 1607. From the collection of Christ's Hospital, Abingdon
Born	c. 1503 Abingdon, Berkshire, England
Died	20 April 1566 London, England
Nationality	British
Other names	Sir John Mason
Occupation	Diplomat, spy, MP
Known for	Chancellor of the University of Oxford

Sir John Mason (1503 – 20 April 1566) was an English diplomat and spy.

Mason was born to humble parents in Abingdon in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) in 1503. His father is said to have been a cowherd, his mother was the sister of a monk at Abingdon Abbey; possibly Thomas Rowland, the last abbot. Alternatively, there are rumours that Mason was, in fact, the abbot's illegitimate son.

Whatever his family connection to the boy, Rowland played an important role in his education, sending him to the abbey school, followed by All Souls College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow in 1521, got his B.A. on 8 July 1521, and his M.A. on 21 February 1525. He was also ordained as an acolyte in 1521.

At Oxford he attracted the attention of Sir Thomas More, who prevailed upon Henry VIII to appoint him King's scholar in Paris, with an annual allowance of £3 6s 8d, which was doubled in 1531. His income was further boosted by the addition of the first of many ecclesiastical benefices: the rectory of Kingston Bagpuize in Berkshire.

He became Chancellor of Oxford University for the periods 1552-1556 and 1559-1564.

He was Member of parliament for Reading (UK Parliament constituency) in 1547, and for Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency) on four occasions between 1554 and 1563.