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John Mason (diplomat)

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John Mason
Painting of Sir John Mason attributed to Sampson Strong, 1607. From the collection of Christ's Hospital, Abingdon
Bornc. 1503
Died20 April 1566
London, England
NationalityBritish
Other namesSir John Mason
Occupation(s)Diplomat, spy, MP
Known forChancellor of the University of Oxford
ChildrenMary Cheke (stepchild)

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

Origins and education

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Mason was born to humble parents in Abingdon in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) in 1503. His father is said to have been a cowherd,[1] his mother was the sister of a monk at Abingdon Abbey; possibly Thomas Rowland, the last abbot.[2] Alternatively, there are rumours that Mason was, in fact, the abbot's illegitimate son.[3]

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.[4] 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.[1] His income was further boosted by the addition of the first of many ecclesiastical benefices: the rectory of Kingston Bagpuize in Berkshire.[2]

Career

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He was appointed Clerk of the Parliaments in July 1550, succeeding William Paget, 1st Baron Paget (to whom he had been deputy since January 1542), although it seems the two shared the office from December 1551.[5]

He became Chancellor of the University of Oxford 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.[6][7]

He worked for several Tudor monarchs collecting information from the Continent and as a diplomat. He was knighted by Edward VI and made Dean of Winchester.

John Mason School, a secondary school in Abingdon, is named after him.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b * Pollard, Albert Frederick (1893). "Mason, John (1503-1566)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 36. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ^ a b "Mason, Sir John (c.1503–1566)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/18278. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ *"Sir John Mason". Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society. Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. 2013.
  4. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Mason, (Sir) John" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1500–1714. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
  5. ^ "MASON, Sir John (1502/3-66), of Abingdon, Berks. and Hartley Wintney, Hants". History of Parliament Online. History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. ^ Baker, T. F. T. (1982). "Mason, Sir John". In Bindoff, S. T. (ed.). The House of Commons 1509–1558. The History of Parliament Trust.
  7. ^ Harding, Alan (1981). "Mason, Sir John". In Hasler, P. W. (ed.). The House of Commons 1558–1603. The History of Parliament Trust.
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Government offices
Preceded by Clerk of the Privy Council
1543–1545
With: William Honnyng
Succeeded by
Church of England titles
Preceded by Dean of Winchester
1549–1554
Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of Oxford
1552–1556
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of Oxford
1559–1564
Succeeded by
Parliament of England
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Reading
1547
With: John Marshe
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hampshire
1554 (Apr)
With: Sir Thomas White
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hampshire
1558–1566
With: Sir Thomas White (1558–1562)
William Uvedale (1562–1566)
Succeeded by