Charles Mason (Iowa judge), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Charles Mason (Iowa judge)

first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa

Date of Birth: 24-Oct-1804

Place of Birth: Pompey, New York, United States

Date of Death: 27-Feb-1882

Profession: judge, patent attorney

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Charles Mason (October 24, 1804 – February 25, 1882) was born in New York and became a patent attorney, taught engineering, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa, from 1838 to 1847. However, today Mason is perhaps most remembered as the cadet who graduated first in the class of 1829 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ahead of future Confederate Army commander Robert E.
Lee.
Mason and Lee were tied for the head of the class in Artillery, Tactics, and Conduct, but Mason bested Lee in all other subjects and graduated with an overall score of 1995.5 points out of a possible 2000, compared to Lee's 1966.5.
Mason resigned his commission in 1831, two years after graduation.
Mason and Lee also still have the two highest graduation point scores in the history of West Point.
The third highest score in the Academy's history is held by Douglas MacArthur. Later, Mason was president of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, from 1852 to 1853, and United States Commissioner of Patents, from 1853 to 1857.
He was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Iowa in 1867, but was defeated by Samuel Merrill. Mason was a patron of the painter George Henry Yewell.