Newton E. Mason

Rear Admiral Newton Eliphalet Mason (14 October 1850 – 23 January 1945) was a United States Navy officer. His career included combat in the Spanish–American War and service during World War I, significant experience in ordnance duty, and a very long tour as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.

Early life Mason was born in Monroeton, Pennsylvania, on 14 October 1850, the son of Gordon Fowler Mason and Mary Anne Mason, and was educated at the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute in Towanda, Pennsylvania. He entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, on 24 July 1865.

Naval career Mason graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1869. His first assignment was aboard the sailing frigate for a special cruise from 1869 to 1870, and he was promoted to ensign on 12 July 1870. He underwent torpedo instruction in 1871, was promoted to master on 12 July 1871 or in 1872

Masons tour at the torpedo station ended in July 1902, During his tour, Cincinnati took the place of a battleship in the battleline during drills, then steamed across the Mediterranean Sea to transfer to the Asiatic Squadron, where she became part of a cruiser squadron. which lasted until 31 May 1911, During the tour je was promoted to captain on 30 September 1904 and to rear admiral on 12 November 1908. On 27 February 1908, he testified before the United States Senate about alleged structural defects in U.S. Navy battleships. He became a member of the General Board of the United States Navy on 25 May 1911, and remained on the board until his retirement.

Mason retired from the Navy upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 62 on 14 October 1912.

During the 1917-1918 participation of the United States in World War I, Mason was recalled to active duty to serve on the War Industries Board. While on this duty, he was the ordnance member of the Priorities Committee, which was created on 14 May 1917 and charged with deconflicting delivery priorities for the General Munitions Board of the Council of National Defense.

Personal life Mason married the former Isadora "Dora" Edmonia Hancock (16 October 1870 – 6 January 1927) on 4 April 1894. They had at least one son, Gorden Hancock Mason (14 December 1896 – 4 December 1918), who became a Navy officer.

Mason was a member of the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D.C., the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

Death Mason died on 23 January 1945 in Coronado, California, and is buried with his wife and son at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

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