A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Mason, Henry William
MASON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 30.)
Henry William Mason entered the Navy, 5 Nov. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Terrible 74, Capt. Lord Henry Paulet. In that ship, which was at first employed off Cadiz, he saw a good deal of active service in the Mediterranean, where he assisted, as Midshipman, in driving two French ships on shore, and commanded the jolly-boat at the cutting-out of an enemy’s vessel. He left the Terrible in June, 1810, and between that period and Aug. 1815 was employed on the Lisbon, North American, Mediterranean, Home, and Bermuda stations in the Macedonian 38, Capts. Lord Wm. Fitzroy, Hon. Wm. Waldegrave, and John Surman Garden, Conquestador 74, Capt. Lord Wm. Stuart, Resistance 38, Capts. Chas. Hole, Wm. Hamilton, and Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, Thisbe 28, Acting-Capt. Rich. Weymouth, and Scamander 36, Capt. Gilbert Heathcote. He then took up a commission, bearing date 27 Feb. 1815; and was afterwards, from 5 Oct. in that year until 9 Oct. 1817, employed on the Home, Jamaica, and South American stations, in the Désirée and Active frigates, both commanded by Capt. Philip Carteret. During the term of his attachment to the ship last mentioned Lieut. Mason was placed in charge of the Speedwell tender, and employed on the eastern coast of England. Since he left the Active he has been on half-pay.
In 1829 Lieut. Mason was Sheriff for Buckinghamshire. He is now a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant for that co. He married first, in 1822, Mary, niece of the late Sir Wm. Heathcote, Bart.; and (that lady dying in 1825), secondly, in 1826, Horatia, fourth daughter of Geo. Matcham, Esq., of Ashford Lodge, Sussex, by Catherine, sister of the immortal Nelson. By his second wife (who is sister-in-law of Lieuts. John Bendyshe and John Davies, and of the late Capt. Edw. Blanckley, R.N.), the Lieutenant has had issue two sons and five daughters. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.