George Mason

George Mason (1725-1792) was an influential American statesman and a Founding Father of the United States. Most notably, he authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776, which served as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights. Mason was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 but famously refused to sign the final document, advocating for the inclusion of individual liberties. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in drafting the Virginia Constitution. Mason's insistence on protecting individual rights significantly shaped American constitutional development. He passed away on October 7, 1792, at his home in Gunston Hall, Virginia.