James Mason

Biography

James Mason was a prominent American politician and diplomat from Virginia who served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate during the antebellum period. A staunch defender of states' rights and slavery, Mason became a leading figure in Southern politics and was instrumental in drafting the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. During the Civil War, he served as a Confederate diplomat, most notably attempting to secure British and French recognition and support for the Confederate States.