Stevens T. Mason
| Stevens T. Mason | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st Governor of Michigan | |
|
In office November 3, 1835 – January 7, 1840 |
|
| Lieutenant | Edward Mundy |
| Preceded by |
John S. Horner as Territorial Governor |
| Succeeded by | William Woodbridge |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 27, 1811 Leesburg, Virginia |
| Died | January 4, 1843 (aged 31) New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Julia Phelps |
| Nickname(s) | The Boy Governor |
Stevens Thomson Mason (October 27, 1811 – January 4, 1843) was an American politician who served as the 1st Governor of Michigan from 1835 to 1840. Coming to political prominence at an early age, Mason was appointed his state's acting Territorial Secretary by Andrew Jackson at 19, becoming the acting territorial governor soon thereafter in 1834 at 22. As territorial governor, Mason was instrumental in guiding Michigan to statehood, which was secured in 1837. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected as Michigan's first state governor in 1835, where he would serve until 1840. Elected at 23 and taking office at 24, Mason was and remains the youngest state governor in American history.
Mason was born near Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia, into a politically powerful family. His great-grandfather, Thomson Mason (1733–1785) was chief justice of the Virginia supreme court and brother of George Mason (1725–1792), who took part in the Constitutional Convention. His grandfather, Stevens Thomson Mason, was a U.S. Senator from Virginia. His uncle, Armistead Thomson Mason (1787–1819), was also a U.S. Senator from Virginia. His uncles by marriage, Benjamin Howard (1760–1814) and William Taylor Barry (1784–1835), both served in the Kentucky House of Representatives and were U.S. Representatives from Kentucky. Howard was Governor of Louisiana (Missouri) Territory, 1810–12 and Governor of Missouri Territory, 1812–13. Barry served as U.S. Senator from Kentucky, 1814–16 and then had a long career in a number of Kentucky government positions, and ultimately became Postmaster General, 1829–35.
...
Wikipedia