A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mason, Henry Browne
MASON. (Commander, 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
Henry Browne Mason, born 26 April, 1791, is descended from Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham and Winchelsea.
This officer entered the Navy, 6 Dec. 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall, stationed in the Channel and off Cadiz. After sharing in the battle of Trafalgar he removed, in Nov. 1805, to the Amphion 32, Capt. Wm. Hoste, on the Mediterranean station, where, in May, 1809, he was captured in a prize by two French privateers, and carried to Ancona. From that place he was marched to Briançon, and subsequently to Verdun. In Aug. 1810, owing to misconduct on the part of other midshipmen, he was deprived of his parole, and placed in close confinement in the citadel prison. Thence, in the following Nov., after many ineffectual attempts, he contrived to escape; and on 1 Jan. 1811, having traversed Holland, he had the good fortune to reach England. He was in consequence promoted, on 2 Feb. in the same year, to a Lieutenancy in the Dreadnought 98, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzec, off Lisbon; and he was next appointed – 3 May and 18 Dec. 1811, to the America and Kent 74’s, Capts. Josias Rowley and Thos. Rogers, on the Mediterranean station – and, 28 June, 1813 (after six months of half-pay), to the Forth 40, Capt. Sir Wm. Bolton. He acquired his present rank 13 June, 1815, but has not been since employed.
Commander Mason, for upwards of 13 years, has been in the Commission of the Peace for co. Southampton. He was left a widower, with six children, 29 Oct. 1843.