Mason, Stevens Thomson, 1811-1843

Stevens Thomson Mason was born in Virginia (October 27, 1811) and educated in Kentucky where his father had emigrated in 1812. In 1830, his father, John Mason, was appointed secretary of the Territory of Michigan by President Andrew Jackson. He resigned a year later and left for Texas and Mexico perhaps on a mission for the president. In his place, Jackson named the nineteen year old Stevens Mason to the vacant secretariat, taking his oath of office on July 25, 1831. As secretary Mason was also ex-officio governor during the absence of then Governor Porter. With Porter's death, July 6, 1834, Mason became acting governor. Here he led the movement for statehood and prosecuted the boundary dispute with Ohio. He was elected governor in his own right on November 3, 1835, serving two terms, leaving office on January 7, 1840. His administration was plagued by financial difficulties brought on by the Panic of 1837 bringing to a halt many internal improvements projects that had been anticipated. Mason did not run for a third term, instead retired from politics, moving to New York where he practiced law. He died January 4, 1843.

Governor of Michigan.

Born in Virginia, Oct. 27, 1811; secretary and acting governor of Territory of Michigan, 1831-3 when Michigan was organized as a state by the people (admitted 1837), he served two terms as Governor, Nov. 7, 1835-Jan. 7, 1840; after the panic and many business failures of 1837 he moved to New York, where he practiced law, until his death January 4 1843. (from Mich. Biog. ; Mich. Pioneers, v.35, p.244, port. p. 240 & 242) (blue index cards)

First governor of Michigan.